Allen Americans Weekly Update – A Life Well Lived, McAuley Returns, Saucerman to Europe

I want to start this week’s update by sending my condolences to Rick Gosselin, who lost his wife, Ellen, last week after a long and courageous battle with cancer. As many of you know from the stories about Rick in the blog over the years, we became friends because of our mutual interest and joy of the Allen Americans. It was back in 2013 when as a brand-new blogger trying to find my way, I approached the NFL Fall of Fame writer at an Allen practice to ask about how to cover the team. He could not have been more generous with his time and information. Over the last 10 years we have become good friends on the foundation of the Allen Americans but so much more than that. I asked Rick if I could share the obituary he wrote about Ellen. When you combine a great writer, writing about the love of his life, speaking from the heart, this is what you get. I know the entire Allen Americans family send heartfelt condolences to Rick during this difficult time.

Ellen Marie (Mahon) Gosselin passed away on July 25, 2023 after a lengthy battle with cancer in Lewisville, Texas.

Ellen was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on March 5, 1951 and became well-traveled at a young age, living in five different states by the time she was 20 – Pennsylvania, California (San Rafael), Illinois (Western Springs), Michigan (Grosse Pointe Park) and Colorado (Littleton). She attended St. Ambrose Elementary School, Dominican High School and Western Michigan University before settling down to have a family in the Grosse Pointes. She had three children – Peter Sullivan, Erin Sullivan and Rory Lynch (Patrick) – and one grandchild, Cole Richardson, who was the light of her life.

Ellen dated her husband Rick Gosselin in college before going their separate ways and reconnecting 35 years later. They were married in 2010, sharing common backgrounds, common interests and a forever love for each other.

Ellen enjoyed a lifelong love affair with music, dating to the first record she bought (Pineapple Princess by Annette Funicello in 1960) and the first concert she attended (Beatles in 1964). She grew up in Detroit on Motown, specifically Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations, adored the music of both James Taylor (she even got to meet him) and Frank Sinatra and later in life, after her move to Texas, developed a friendship with the music of Waylon, Willie and the Boys.

She coupled her love of music with dance – the East Coast swing, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz – and often broke out in dance with Rick in the kitchen at dinner time when a Sinatra tune turned up on the playlist. She hung a sign in her kitchen reading “When You Stumble, Make It Part of the Dance.” She lived by the credo when you fall, pick yourself up. She loved watching Fred Astaire movies for their blend of music and dance.

Ellen was a vibrant presence in life with a forever smile, admired and loved by all those who crossed her path. She was a Little League mom, a soccer mom and a hockey mom. She always put her kids first. She was involved in parent groups at both Trombly Elementary School and Pierce Junior High School in Grosse Pointe Park and also was active with her daughters in Girl Scouts.

Ellen had a professional career in Michigan in banking but gave it up in her move to Texas. She loved her Irish heritage and also favored a good Italian meal, preferably spaghetti from the Roma Café in Detroit. She loved taking long walks with her black Labradors Jack and Gracie and staying at Texas B&B’s in Fredericksburg and Palestine.  She also delighted in her trips to Naperville, Ill., to visit her son, the other light of her life.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Gerard and Maryann Mahon. She is survived by her husband Rick, her brothers Rick Mahon (Claudia), Christopher Mahon (Robin) and Michael Mahon (Zsuzsanna), her sister Mary Cae Pilypaitis (Ben), her children and grandson plus countless nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan on Friday, Sept. 8 at 12 p.m.

– Allen added another piece to the puzzle with the announcement that Colby McAuley will be returning for the 2023-24 season. It will be Colby’s fifth different season in Allen, but the prior ones have all been   partial seasons. Here is an interesting stat, only two players in the history of the franchise have played more seasons in Allen (Spencer Asuchak 10, Gary Steffes 6) than McAuley, but his 96 games played ranks him #45 on the all-time list.

McAuley joined the Americans at the end of January last season and was a big part of Allen’s turnaround. He had 34 points (11G, 23A) in 38 games for a point per game average of .90. He has great skill, is a two-way player and is hard to play against. McAuley hasn’t played 40+ games for the same team since he was in juniors. If he stays healthy and is with Allen all season, he will have the best season of his pro career.

– Here is an updated Allen roster

GOALIES

DEFENSEMEN

• Matt Brassard

FORWARDS

• Liam Finlay
• Colton Hargrove
• Grant Hebert
• Colby McAuley

– Colton Saucerman will not return to the Americans as he has signed in Europe with the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL. The EIHL has been a popular destination for Allen Americans players. Here is a list of former Allen players that have already signed with the EIHL for 2023-24.

• Dyson Stevenson (Glasgow)
• Josh Brittain (Dundee)
• Travis Brown (Belfast)
• Collin Shirley (Fife)
• Kameron Kielly (Sheffield)
• J.D. Dudek (Coventry)

– If you have been tracking 3ICE the final regular season tournament will be tomorrow night with the top four teams in the regular season qualifying for the championship tournament which will be held in Philadelphia on August 12. Team Murphy (Hargrove, Crone, Register) have already qualified for the championships and Team Johnston (Costello) will likely make it. Chad Costello was injured and missed a week but plans to be back if Team Johnston qualifies for the championship.

DID YOU KNOW: With five players announced, Allen is it the low end of player announcements. Here is the complete list:

Players announced thus far by ECHL teams for 2023-24 ranges from 16 to 0. The total announced is 108. That means by the time the season starts at least 575 more players will be announced. A couple of things to keep in mind. Many more players have been signed but not yet announced. Also, teams that expect a lot of contract players being assigned from affiliates will not have as many players announced.16 – FW15 – IA12 – KC11 – NOR10 – ATL, TR9 – JAX8 – WHL7 – REA, TOL, WIC, WOR6 – GVL5 – ALN, MNE, SAV, TUL, UTA4 – CIN, FLA, IND, SC3 – ADK, ORL, RC2 – KAL0 – IDH, NFL

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