More Playoff Details, Who Has NHL/AHL Contract Players, Why is Allen Bussing, ECHL Attendance, Former Allen Players on Playoff Rosters and More

There were few surprises on the Allen Americans playoff roster when it was officially released. If you haven’t seen the playoff roster here it is:

Frank Marotte, G; Luke Peressini, G; Nick Albano, D; Ben Carroll, D; Kris Myllari, D; Darian Skeoch, D; Nolan Kneen, D; Jake Kearley, D; Corey Durocher, F; Chad Butcher, F; Josh Winquist, F; Branden Troock, F; Justin Young, F; Colby McAuley, F; Spencer Asuchak, F; Jack Combs, F; Jackson Leppard, F; Chad Costello, F; Jared Bethune, F

Reserve List – Ryan Lohin, F; Philip Beaulieu, D; Eric Roy, D; J.D. Dudek, FPlayoff Eligible List –Antoine Bibeau G

• There are only 19 players on the active roster rather than the 20 allowed. That is because the players on the active roster must fit under the salary cap. Allen can’t fit 20 players under the salary cap.
• The four players on the reserve have been out because of illness/injury. There is no limitation on moving players from active to reserve. With that said, I think it is doubtful Lohin, Roy or Dudek make the trip to Rapid City.
• Goalie Antoine Bibeau is the only player on the Charlotte Checkers roster eligible to be assigned to Allen. I would see this as more of an insurance policy at this point in case of an injury to Peressini or Marotte. Bibeau last played on March 20 and has played in only five games for Charlotte, mostly in relief, since last December.

– While Allen will be missing some key players for the trip to Rapid City it is likely, barring more injuries this weekend, the Americans could have the entire playoff roster available when the teams return to Allen for games three, four and five.

– One question I always get at playoff time is how many NHL/AHL contracted players are on each team. Here are the numbers for the Mountain Division. Players on the playoff eligible list are currently in the AHL but could be assigned later in the playoffs.

• Utah – eight on the active roster, one on reserve and one on the playoff eligible list.
• Rapid City – one on the active roster and one on reserve.
• Allen – one on the active roster (Marotte), one on reserve (Lohin) and one on the playoff eligible list (Bibeau).
• Tulsa – three on the active roster, one on playoff eligible list.

– I had a couple of questions asking why the Americans are taking a bus to Rapid City rather than flying. The simple answer is because it is cheaper. Allen did fly to Rapid City earlier in the season (November) when airfares were cheaper and there was time to plan ahead. Bussing may turn out to be a good luck charm. If you remember, the Americans took “Big Red” to South Carolina in the finals of the 2015 Kelly Cup playoffs on the way to the championship. I heard the sleeper bus Allen is taking to Rapid City is a replica of “Big Red” with two differences. It is a different color and in top notch shape.

– There are a lot of former Allen Americans players on Kelly Cup playoff rosters. 11 of 15 teams have at least one former Allen player on the playoff roster Here is the list. If not indicated otherwise the  player is on the active roster:

• Atlanta – Dalton Thrower, Josh Thrower, Kameron Kielly (reserve)
• Cincinnati – Josh Burnside (reserve), Nick Boka (playoff eligible)
• Florida – Kyle Neuber (reserve)
• Fort Wayne – Zach Pochiro
• Greenville – Corbin Baldwin
• Maine – Jeremy Brodeur, Conner Bleackley
• Rapid City – Garrett Klotz (reserve)
• Reading – Hayden Hawkey, Dominic Cormier
• Toledo – Cole Fraser, Jesse Mychan
• Trois-Riviéres – Olivier Archambault (reserve)
• Tulsa – Duggie Lagrone, Jackson Leef, Joe Garreffa, Tyler Poulsen (reserve)

– The Kelly Cup playoffs get underway tonight with one game on the schedule in the North Division. The #1 team (Reading) is at home to take on #4 Maine. This series may be more competitive than it might appear given Reading had the second best winning percentage in the league (.697) while Maine finished #18 at .514. Head to head Maine was 3-2-1-0 against Reading this season.

– Have seen some comments about the Allen attendance this season compared to the past. There always seems to be some dispute on what numbers have been reported over time. All I can go by is the official attendance reports from the ECHL. Allen finished the regular season with an average attendance of 3220 which was ranked #18 in the ECHL. Here is Allen’s average attendance for each season in franchise history:

• 3220: 2021-22
• 1859: 2020-21 (COVID restricted)
• 4001: 2019-20 (shortened season)
• 4073: 2018-19
• 4082: 2017-18
• 4340: 2016-17
• 4571: 2015-16*
• 4096: 2014-15*
• 4216: 2013-14*
• 4157: 2012-13*
• 4336: 2011-12
• 3986: 2010-11
• 3810: 2009-10

*won championship

DID YOU KNOW: The top six ECHL teams in average attendance, ranging from 7358 to 5212 made the playoffs and four of the bottom six ECHL teams in attendance, ranging from 2151 to 1681 made the playoffs.Toledo, #1 in average attendance made the playoffs.Wheeling, #27 in average attendance made the playoffs.Here is the average attendance for the 16 teams in the Kelly Cup playoffs:7358 – Toledo6838 – Fort Wayne6405 – Jacksonville5834 – Tulsa5327 – Florida5212 – Cincinnati4249 – Utah3780 – Atlanta3361 – Rapid City3220 – Allen3151 – Reading3088 – Greenville2851 – Maine2658 – Trois-Rivières2049 – Newfoundland1681 – Wheeling