Game Day Preview: Americans face RC for the first time this season

For Immediate Release
Wednesday December 20^th, 2023

Contact: Tommy Daniels (469) 387-7118

Email: tommy@allenamericans.com

Game Day Preview: Rapid City in town for the final three games before the Christmas break.  

Dallas/Allen, Texas - The Allen Americans, ECHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators (NHL), and Belleville Senators (AHL), open a three-game series tonight against the Rapid City Rush. This is the first meeting of the season series. Allen won the season series from Rapid City last year 5-3.

Allen Americans Tonight: 

Pregame Show: 6:50 PM CST

Puck Drop: 7:10 PM CST

Watch Live: FLOHOCKEY.TV
Listen Live:  AMERICANS 24/7

On the Call: Tommy Daniels and Maurice Fitzgerald

Next Home Game: 12/22/23 vs. Rapid City, 7:10 PM CST

Slava Demin traded to Florida: Americans defenseman Slava Demin has been traded to the Florida Everblades, completing a future considerations deal. Demin played in 23 games this season for Allen and had five points (0 goals and 5 assists). The 6-foot-3 and 195-pound blueliner signed as a free agent this past summer. Prior to Allen, he played five years of collegiate hockey, that included three years at the University of Denver where he was a teammate of Hank Crone. The Cypress, California resident was a former fourth round draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. 

Americans and Rush Head-to-Head: The Allen Americans and Rapid City Rush play the first of a three-game series tonight at Credit Union of Texas Event Center. The two teams will meet a total of six times this season, with three games in each building. Last year the Americans won the regular season series 5-3. Over the last five years, the Americans hold a 24-13 advantage over Rapid City.

Powerful Special Teams: Despite going 0-for-4 on the power play last Saturday night in Kansas City, the Americans power play remains Top-10 overall in the ECHL. Their current ranking is seventh overall, going 21-for-88 (23.9%).

Gagnon set to return: Americans second year defenseman Ryan Gagnon is set to make his return to the lineup this week after missing a couple months of action. Gagnon has not played since opening night in Idaho. Gagnon along with Captain Kris Myllari were the only two Americans players to appear in all 72 games last year. In those 72 games he had nine points (4 goals and 5 assists). 

McAuley point streak snapped at five games: Colby McAuley had his long point streak snapped last Saturday night in Kansas City. Over the five-game streak he had 12 points (7 goals and 5 assists). He leads the Americans in goals with 14, which is good for 10^th overall in the ECHL, and power play goals with seven. He is Americans team leader in points with 23.

Comparing Allen and Rapid City

Allen Americans

Home: 1-6-0

Away: 7-9-1

Overall: 8-15-1

Last 10: 4-5-1

Allen Americans Leaders:

Goals: (14) Colby McAuley

Assists: (17) Kris Myllari  

Points: (23) Colby McAuley

+/-: (+10) Blake Murray

PIM’s: (56) Mikael Robidoux

Rapid City Rush:

Home: 3-7-1-0

Away: 7-5-1-0

Overall: 10-12-2-0

Last 10: 5-4-1-0

Rapid City Rush Leaders:

Goals: (10) Alex Aleardi

Assists: (15) Logan Nelson

Points: (22) Logan Nelson and Alex Aleardi

+/-: (+9) Brett Gravelle              

PIM’s (39) Brandon Yeamans