Allen busy preparing for inaugural season

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/* ALLEN, Texas — Excitement is building in the North Texas community of Allen as construction of the new state-of-the-art Allen Events Center speeds towards completion. The venue will seat 6,235 fans for hockey and will be the home of the expansion Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League.
 
Global Entertainment Corporation, which owns the CHL, The MGHerring Group and the City of Allen collaborated to build the arena, which covers 188,000-square feet and has a total capacity of 8,600 for concerts and other events. The Event Center also holds 26 suites and a community rink, which will be used for park and recreation purposes, free skates, hockey leagues, skating lessons and the home of the Allen Academy of Skating.
 
While construction is completed, the Americans will begin their season on the road in Prescott, Arizona on October 16th where they will take on the Arizona Sundogs. They will continue to play on the road for three weeks until the home opener Saturday, Nov. 7, against the Corpus Christi IceRays.
 
Head Coach and General Manager Dwight Mullins and Associate Coach and Director of Player Personnel Bill McDonald have been busy building the roster for their inaugural season.  
 
They’ve already signed eight forwards, including Jarret Lukin, Justin Bowers, Chris Gaudet and Britt Dougherty, all formerly of the Dayton Bombers (ECHL); Bruce Graham and Liam Huculak, formerly of the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), Nathan O’Nabigon, formerly of the Rocky Mountain Rage (CHL) and rookie Bill Loupee (Miami University of Ohio). They’ve also acquired defenseman Erik Adams from the Colorado Eagles (CHL) in exchange for future considerations. Rookie goaltender Chris Whitley ( Lakewood University) is the first net minder to join the team.
 
The Americans did not benefit from an expansion draft as the league determined it was not needed, given that the New Mexico Scorpions and the Rocky Mountain Rage had suspended operations and the Oklahoma City Blazers folded. Players from those three organizations became free agents and available to the Americans and another expansion franchise, the Missouri Mavericks. Nathan O’Nabigon, who played for the Rage last season, is excited about contributing the new teams’ success.
 
“I want to be there from the start and help where I can. I think it’s a great opportunity,” O’Nabigon said.
 
The Americans have been placed in the league’s Southern Conference along with the Texas Brahmas, Amarillo Gorillas, Arizona Sundogs, Corpus Christi Ice Rays, Laredo Bucks, Odessa Jackalopes and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.
 
Only 40 miles separates the Americans from their North Texas rivals, the defending CHL champion Texas Brahmas. The two teams will play nine times this season with the first game scheduled for Veterans Day on November 11th.
 
“They’re a class act and I’ll think they’ll have a lot of success in this league, hopefully not against us (smiling),” Brahmas Head Coach Dan Wildfong said. “It’s going to be a great rivalry…they’re putting a great team together.”  
 
The Americans are an affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars and the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars.   Two members of the Americans roster will be attending NHL training camps. Center Justin Bowers will attend the Phoenix Coyotes camp and goalie Chris Whitley will be heading to Detroit to train with the Red Wings. Center Bruce Graham and Right Wing Liam Huculak will attend the Texas Stars camp in Austin.
 
“It’s an exciting thing for our entire organization to know our guys are getting NHL opportunities.” Head Coach Dwight Mullins said.
 
Excitement among local residents is also building as the season approaches.
 
“It’s going to be great having professional hockey right in our neighborhood,” Allen resident Paul Leonard said. “I’m less than 10 minutes away…I’ll be there for every game!”
 
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com

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