Americans Ownership Group Makes Statement on Move to ECHL
October 14, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Allen Americans News Release
Allen, Texas - In an agreement that changes the landscape of minor professional hockey, the Allen Americans and six other teams in the Central Hockey League, will become consolidated with the ECHL for the 2014-15 season. With the addition of seven teams from the CHL, the ECHL will operate with 28 teams as the only "AA" hockey league in North America.
For the upcoming 2014-15 campaign, the CHL clubs have formed a "Central" division of the ECHL and will each add six dates to their schedule for a total of 72 games.
"The move to the ECHL provides a tremendous amount of stability and security for our teams moving forward," stated Americans owner Rodney Steven. "There is no question that joining forces with the ECHL to create one, premier league, provides strength and viability for our teams. This is a historic move and I think all of our fans are going to be extremely excited about the level of competition they're going to see on the ice."
In the 2013-14 season, 29 former ECHL players made their debut in the NHL. The list of ECHL alumni who have gone on to play in the NHL includes Stanley Cup champion goaltenders Jonathan Quick (Reading Royals) and Tim Thomas (Birmingham Bulls), Stanley Cup winner Rich Peverley (South Carolina Stingrays/Reading Royals), standout winger Jordie Benn (Victoria) of the Dallas Stars, P.A. Parenteau (Augusta), a rising star with the Colorado Avalanche, and Dan Bylsma (Greensboro) who played in Anaheim and Los Angeles before coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins to the 2008-09 Stanley Cup title. Over the course of its 26-year history, a total of 541 former ECHL players have appeared in the NHL.
The ECHL, founded in 1988 with five teams, expanded to the western United States in 2003 and operates with four divisions (North, South, Midwest, Pacific) in two conferences (Eastern and Western). Each team in the ECHL is affiliated with at least one team in the American Hockey League and one team in the National Hockey League.
"We are thrilled to be stepping up to a league like the ECHL that has such a rich history and outstanding record of developing top-level talent," remarked Matt Canavan, Allen Americans President. "We are all looking forward to setting up affiliations that will provide our players with the very best opportunities to further their careers and achieve their dreams of reaching the NHL."
The Americans' home opener at Allen Event Center remains scheduled for Friday, October 24 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers.
For questions about season tickets and group tickets, please call 972-912-1000 or visit www.allenamericans.com.
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