Barry the Blogger Says Thank You, Thank You, Thank You as Uncertainty Abounds

The day has arrived for the blog to say goodbye to the 2021-22 season and go into the summer hiatus. I have to admit there is more uncertainty today about the future of the team, the coach and the blog than at any time since I started writing in 2012.

This is what I know. Coach and general manager Steve Martinson is under contract with the Allen Americans until the end of June, but he has not been offered a contract for the 2022-23 season. Now that the Allen season has come to an end, I would expect Martinson’s status with the Americans will be known soon. I also know several ECHL teams are currently searching for a coach. I know for sure, if Martinson does not return, the focus, frequency and depth of the blog will change dramatically.

While many ECHL teams will declare the season a success if they make the playoffs that is not the expectation in Allen. There are many parts and pieces that went into the Americans not living up to expectations in 2021-22, but if you had to boil it down to one quote that captures the season it would be “defensive indifference.” Inconsistent team defense plagued the team all season.

I am not going to go through the long list of everyone I typically thank in the “thank you” blog at the end of the season but want to mention two. First are the readers of the blog. As most everyone knows the blog is a labor of love for me, not a business, and the only reason for its existence is to share information about the Allen Americans with all of you. From a meager start in 2012, the blog passed two million unique page views this season and as of today it is at 2,064,383. The blog has reached people all over the US and Canada as well as the hockey hotbeds in Europe. It proves fans of the Allen Americans are all over the world.

It is quite an undertaking to write about the team seven days a week during the season and it does indeed take a village to make it all possible. It seems like as the years go by more and more blog readers help me out with information, ideas for stories, ask questions and let me know they appreciate the work I do. A special shout out for those of you that act as proofreaders and fact checkers so I can correct the many mistakes I make being a one man show. It is hard to put into words my appreciation whether you read the blog every day or are a casual fan that stumbles across my daily musings. It has been my pleasure to meet many of you and your words of encouragement in person, comments at the end of each blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, message boards, and email have been very satisfying and inspiring. Thanks to you, the readers!

With all of the stats and information included in the blog what makes it special is hearing from coach/general Steve Martinson. His willingness to talk to me early every morning to share the latest information about the team and take my calls practically 24 hours a day is definitely above and beyond the call of duty. I am confident Martinson’s access and willingness to share information with the fans through the blog is not matched by any other coach in the league. I have said for several years the blog started when Martinson arrived and will end (in its current form) when he leaves. Hopefully that won’t be anytime soon.

During the off season I will still publish a blog on an as needed basis as new information becomes available. I plan on sitting down with coach Martinson sometime this week for a Q & A on the 2021-22 season. I also have a bucket list of stories to choose from when I get the itch to write over the summer. Everything from what really happened this season, the story of affiliations and its time to put Riley Gill in the Hall of Fame are on that bucket list.

If you are on Facebook or Twitter you can see whenever there is a new post on the blog by liking my page on Facebook at “Allen Americans Blog” or following me on Twitter at @allenamericans1. If you are not on social media make sure you bookmark Allen Americans Blog.

DID YOU KNOW: I always end the last blog of the season with this list. Lots of memories good and bad when you look at the games on this list. If you consider only one team wins the last game of the season each year, Allen fans are fortunate to have had that experience four times and they all happened at home. Here is the date of the last game played in each year of the Allen franchise along with the results.

• May 4, 2010: 4-3 loss at Rapid City in the CHL Presidents’ Cup finals
• May 8, 2011: 5-3 loss at Bossier-Shreveport in the CHL Berry Conference finals
• April 10, 2012: 4-2 loss at Texas Brahmas in the CHL Berry Conference semi-finals
• May 11, 2013: 4-3 OT home win over Wichita in the CHL Presidents’ Cup finals
• May 10, 2014: 5-2 home win over Denver in the CHL Presidents’ Cup finals
• June 14, 2015: 6-1 home win over South Carolina in the Kelly Cup finals
• June 9, 2016: 4-2  home win over Wheeling Nailers in the Kelly Cup finals
• May 9, 2017: 4-3  home loss to Colorado, Mountain Division finals
• April 25, 2018: 4-1 loss at Idaho, Mountain Division semi-finals
• April 6, 2019: 4-1 loss at Wichita, out of playoffs
• March 7, 2020: 4-2 home loss to Tulsa, no playoffs, season canceled
• June 22, 2021: 3-2 OT loss at Fort Wayne, Western Conference finals
• April 30, 2022: 6-3 home loss to Rapid City, Mountain Division semi-finals