The Allen Americans Open Training Camp

October 10^th, 2011, the Allen Americans open up training camp at the Allen Event Center.

The Americans enter their third year in the Central Hockey League, and in the previous two seasons, the Americans have captured their Division Title, made it to the League Finals in just their FIRST YEAR, and last year won the Governor’s Cup, which is for the best record in the league. However, they exited the playoffs early, and had to watch eventual champion Bossier City/Shreveport lift the championship trophy… now the irony of it all.

The league has seen teams come and go, and Bossier City is one of them, so their one and only championship in the Central Hockey League is the last one for them, some of those players along with other teams that had to close operations have scattered into the league and Allen was fortunate enough to pick up a few players from other teams, to improve their skills and speed.

Some familiar faces have returned to this team from last year, such as Colton Yellow-Horn, Bruce Graham, and Mike Berube just to name a few, some others have left, like Chris Whitely who manned the goal for the Americans last year, he is now in Europe tending goal for a team in Scotland.

Minor League Hockey has its good points and its bad, the down side, obvious is that fans get attached to some of the players, and they move to the next level or to another team that can use their services, much like Minor League Baseball does with trades and players to be named later.

However in Allen, where this team has actually built a pretty good fan base with putting in an average of 3500 per game during the season then selling out over 6000 seats for the playoffs, this team has solidified itself as part of the community.

They are one of the few teams in the league that has a broadcast team that not only does their home games but also their away games, and all of them can be heard through the internet with the help of a local radio station, KLAK in McKinney, Texas just up the road from Allen.

Tommy Daniels will be in his third year behind the microphone for the Americans, a true hockey fan first, but more so, his knowledge of the game, and his ability to paint the picture in your mind about what is going on the ice without losing the listener. His broadcast partner from last year will return as well Jarred Yost, a young man who played college hockey at Oklahoma University, as well as works with youth hockey teams in the Metroplex, as their coach, has a great knowledge of the game and brings that to the analyst seat in the broadcast booth.

Family atmosphere helps a great deal with being a part of the community, and the Allen Event Center has great sight lines, not a bad seat in the house, and more so, FREE PARKING and lots of restaurants and entertainment area to give the fans a place to go before or after the games every night.

Good rivalries help as well, with the Texas Brahmas across town in Fort Worth, helps the league, when you have two teams close in proximity, and able to give good games in both their home arenas… however if you put the Allen Event Center up against other arenas, this one will win every time, its built for comfort, for every event!

The Americans will have a new affiliation as well, the first two seasons they had the Dallas Stars as their National Hockey League affiliate, this year they will change and be associated with the Colorado Avalanche, so these young men will work hard to be a part of the NHL some day, but for now, they will learn from one of the very best in Coach and General Manager Dwight Mullins, and continue to strive to be the best they can be at this level, and maybe move up to the next level of the American Hockey League.

Come out to the Even Center, tickets are priced for families to enjoy the evening, and the players are available to talk to, and get to know, and that makes it even more special for the kids!

Just a thought!