Where Are They Now – Checking in with Former Allen Americans Players

With nothing new to report this morning I took the time to see how some of the former Allen players are doing this season. It is always fun for me to see where former players have landed this season and how they are doing. This will be in two parts, players in the ECHL will be the first part and players elsewhere in the second. This should be fun. Since this will be only a fraction of former Allen Americans, if I don’t cover your favorite player, let me know and I will include in a future post.

ECHL PLAYERS

Gavin Gould – Gavin was Allen’s leading rookie scorer last season despite playing only 23 games with the Americans. He had 26 points (9G, 17A) and was selected to the ECHL all-star game. He played his last game for the Americans on January 22, 2022, before having season ending knee surgery. Gavin is now with South Carolina, the first-place team in the South Division (by points percentage). Gavin has played in 19 games and has just eight points, all assists.

Josh Winquist – Josh was a key player for Allen down the stretch last season after being acquired from Reading in late February. In 23 games Winquist had 24 points (13G, 11A) and had four game winning goals, one fewer than the team lead. After a short stint in Europe at the start of this season Winquist signed with Fort Wayne. He has played 26 games and scored 30 points (8G, 22A) which leads the team in scoring. He just had a 13-game point streak snapped, the third longest point streak in the ECHL this season. Fort Wayne got off to a horrible start (1-4-1-1) and was in last place but has recently won eight in a row. The Komets are in third place in the Central Division.

Matt Register – The three-time Kelly Cup champion and three-time ECHL Defensemen of the Year returned to the ECHL this year after playing in the EIHL (Cardiff Devils) last season, where he won another championship. He last played in Allen in 2020-21 when he led all ECHL defensemen in assists. Matt could have signed with any number of ECHL teams. My reporting is his final decision came down to two teams, Allen or Idaho. Matt is a friend, teammate and former roommate of Idaho coach Everett Sheen when they played together for three seasons in Ontario. He chose Idaho over Allen which turned out to be a wise choice as the Steelheads have been the best team in the ECHL and are on record pace with a .833 points percentage. Matt has played in 30 games for Idaho and has 22 points (4G, 18A). He leads the ECHL in plus/minus with +41. It looks like another deep playoff run for Register.

Tanner Eberle – After four years in Europe playing for the Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) Tanner returned to the ECHL season signing with Greenville. Tanner played parts of three seasons in Allen and was a popular player because of his speed and hustle. Eberle is Greenville’s third leading scorer with 19 points (11G, 8A) in 23 games. Grenville is in fifth place (by points percentage) in the very tight South Division where five teams have point percentages between .629 and .679.

Zane Franklin – Zane was Allen’s leading rookie scorer in 2020-21 and also lead the team with 125 penalty minutes. He decided to go to college and his rights were traded to Reading. He left college after one year, signed with Reading this season and was traded to Idaho after four games in Reading. In 22 games in Idaho, Franklin has 14 points (6G, 8A) and 23 penalty minutes. A big opportunity for Franklin being traded to the best team in the league.

Alex Breton – After two great seasons in Allen including being selected the ECHL Defensemen of the Year in 2019-20, Breton left for Europe (Slovakia) where he played three seasons and won a championship in 2021-22. Breton returned to the ECHL this season signing with Trois-Riviéres. In 18 games with the Lions, Alex had 12 points (2G. 10A). On December 4th Breton was loaned to Belleville (AHL) and has been there ever since playing in 11 games with two points (0G, 2A).

Josh Lammon – Josh played two seasons in Allen (2019-21) before signing with Cardiff (EIHL) in 2021-22 where along with Matt Register, he won a championship. Josh returned to the ECHL this season signing with Kansas City. My understanding is Josh had a prior relationship with the Mavericks coaching staff which helped in the recruiting process. Lammon is part of the on-ice leadership wearing an “A” for the Mavericks, has 6 points (3G, 3A) in 19 games and is second on the team in plus/minus at +5. Kansas City is currently in third place in the Mountain Division.

EUROPE PLAYERS

Scott Conway – Scott played in Allen in 2020-21 (12G, 8A) and signed in the EIHL (Belfast) after the season and has been tearing that league up ever since. Last season he was second in the EIHL in points. In 52 games Scott had 78 points (33G, 45A). This season he leads the league in scoring with 47 points (20G, 27A) in 26 games which is a 1.81 average points per game. Belfast is in fourth place in the 10 team EIHL.

Colton Yellow Horn – It has been many years (2011-12) since Colton last played in Allen, but he remains one of the all-time favorites. He is one of just eight Allen players that have scored 30+ goals in a season and is fourth all-time in assists in a single season (Costello is #1, #2, #3). Yellow Horn is in his 15th pro season and has played all over the world from Japan to Scotland to Hungary to Romania to Slovakia to Austria. This season Colton is playing in England for the Coventry Blaze (EHIL.) As a 35-year-old, Yellow Horn leads his team in points with 32 (14G, 18A) in 29 games. Coventry is in fifth place in the 10-team league.

Olivier Archambault – After seven years in North America playing in 288 ECHL (66 with Allen) and 88 AHL games, Archambault decided to play in Europe in 2022-23. He is playing for an Italian team in the ICEHL, a league with teams from Austria, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia. Archambault leads the team in points with 32 (9G, 23A) in 31 games. His team (Val Pustria) is in 10th place in the 13-team league.

Les Lancaster – Les had an amazing 2020-21 season in Allen. He led all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 64 points (26G, 38A). His 26 goals were the most goals scored by a pure defenseman in the ECHL since the 1990’s. Lancaster was selected as the ECHL Defenseman of the Year and was runner-up for the MVP award. After his great season Lancaster signed in one of the best leagues in Europe and the top league in Finland, Liiga and plays for Ilves. He is the highest scoring defenseman on the team with 24 points (8G, 16 A) in 24 games. He is fourth overall in points on the team. Les is #3 in the league in points among all defensemen. Lancaster recently signed a contract extension with Ilves for the 2023-24 season. Ilves is in second place in the 15-team league.

Kale Kerbashian – Kale played parts of three seasons in Allen the last being in 2016-17. He was one of the most fascinating players I have ever interviewed. You can find that interview by doing a search, “Allen Americans Blog, Player Profile – Keeping up with Kerbashian, January 26, 2013.” Kale has played in Europe since 2018-19 and this season signed with a team in Slovakia (HK Spisska Nova Ves), Kale is second on the team in scoring with 26 points (12G, 14A) in 27 games. His team is in fifth place in the 12-team league.

Josh Brittain – Josh is another one of those experienced players that was recruited to Allen a couple of times mid-season. In 2016-17, arriving in January, Josh had 23 points (11G, 12A) in 38 games in the regular season and four points (3G, 1A) in 11 playoff games. Josh last played in Allen in 2019-20. He has played the last few years in Europe and this season signed with the Cardiff Devils (EIHL). Brittain has played in 23 games for Cardiff and has 13 points (5G 8A) and 23 penalty minutes. Cardiff is in third place in the 10-team league.

Tyler Sheehy – Tyler is another player that had an amazing rookie season in Allen. In 2019-20 Tyler played in 47 games in Allen and scored 70 points (26G, 44A). He was the ECHL Rookie of the Year and runner-up in the MVP voting. Sheehy left for the top German league (DEL) in 2021-22 and had an immediate impact. He led the team (Nurnberg Ice Tigers) in points with 43 points (25G, 18A) in 49 games. This season Tyler is #3 in scoring with 26 points (8G, 18A) in 37 games. Nurnberg is in 11th place in the 15 team DEL.

Alex Lavoie – Another former Rookie of the Year in Allen who also won a championship with the Americans (2013-14) is Alex Lavoie. He has spent the majority of the time in Europe since 2016-17 but made a brief return to Allen in 2020-21. Alex has played in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Austria and this season signed in the top league in Denmark for SonderjyskE. In 17 games Alex has 18 points (2G, 16A). He has missed some games but leads the team in average points per game. Incidentally, the team’s leading scorer is Jack Combs’ little brother, Charlie.

I will stop here as this has taken much longer than anticipated. It was so much fun and sent me off on all kinds of tangents. Many great players, popular players and champion players on this list and a few real characters.

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