AHL San Antonio Rampage

Scott Allen Named Head Coach

Published on November 12, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Antonio Rampage News Release


Florida Panthers General Manager and Head Coach Rick Dudley announced today that Scott Allen has been named the new head coach of the San Antonio Rampage, the Panthers primary affiliate of the American Hockey League. In addition, Bobby Jay, San Antonio's director of hockey operations, has been promoted as the Rampage's general manager and will also serve as their interim assistant coach.

"Scott has done an incredible job in developing our prospects in San Antonio," said Florida Panthers General Manager Rick Dudley. "We always had plans for Scott to be the club's AHL head coach at some point and now it is his turn to lead San Antonio. He is very well respected by our players and we are confident that he and Bobby will continue to build on the success that the Rampage have experienced so far this season."

"Scott's success on and off the ice—plus his familiarity with our team—have made him a very strong contributor to the winning momentum we have built in San Antonio over the last year," said Rick Pych, Executive Vice President of Finance & Corporate Development of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. "Working alongside Bobby, and the experience he brings to the bench, adds to the hockey foundation we have built thus far."

This is the second time in two seasons Allen has taken over as head coach for the Rampage. Last year, he stepped in on an interim basis when former Rampage Head Coach John Torchetti was named as an assistant coach for the Panthers on March 6, 2003. Allen guided San Antonio through the club's final 15 regular season games posting a 6-6-1-2 record advancing the team into the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs.

Allen, 37, makes the transition with the Rampage sitting in second place in the West Division with an 8-3-1-0 record. The Rampage's 17 points also have them ranked second in the Western Conference (fifth in the AHL), just one point behind the Chicago Wolves.

Said Allen, "I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to help develop the Panthers' prospects. The SBC Center and the city of San Antonio provide a great environment to prepare the players for the next level. With our team's tremendous talent, I believe the Rampage can add to the franchise's success."

Allen joined the Rampage as an assistant coach on June 28, 2002, after spending the previous six seasons coaching the Johnstown Chiefs in the East Coast Hockey League. In 326 games behind the bench for Johnstown, Allen's tenure was highlighted by winning more games than any other coach in the franchise's 16-year history. In his last season with Johnstown, Allen's Chiefs posted a 39-31-2 record, setting franchise single season records for most wins, most points (80) and the fewest goals allowed (232). Under Allen's leadership the Chiefs made three consecutive Kelly Cup playoff appearances, while leading the ECHL in player call-ups each year.

During his 10-year playing career, the New Bedford, Massachusetts native competed in the All American Hockey League, Atlantic Coast Hockey League, Colonial Hockey League, the Central Hockey League and the ECHL. Playing alongside Torchetti, the pair captured the ECHL title while playing for the Carolina Thunderbirds during the 1988-89 campaign. Allen returned to the ECHL finals the following year and hoisted the Riley Cup as a member of the Greensboro Monarchs.

Prior to joining the Rampage on July 23, Jay spent the last four years as an assistant coach. The 37-year old Jay broke into the coaching ranks during the 1999-00 campaign as an assistant with the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers before spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs prior. During his tenure, the Monarchs posted a 78-51-22-9 mark while advancing to the Calder Cup playoffs each season.

The Burlington, Massachusetts native began his professional playing career with the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets where he played for three years (1990-1993). Jay helped lead the Komets to the Turner Cup Championship in 1993 and was named the team's most valuable defensive player, while also being named to the IHL's All-Star team.

After a season with the IHL's Phoenix Roadrunners and a brief stint with the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, Jay spent the next five seasons (1994-99) with the IHL's Detroit Vipers. While with the Vipers he played for Ludzik and Dudley for three seasons (1996-99) earning his second Turner Cup Championship in 1997.

Jay played four years of varsity hockey at Merrimack College and graduated with a degree in business management in 1988, before spending one year playing hockey in Sweden.

The Rampage are back in action Thursday night when they travel to Grand Rapids to take on the Griffins at 6:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on KTKR ‘The Ticket" 760 AM with Andrew Monaco calling all the action.

Check out the San Antonio Rampage Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2003


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