ECHL: Allen Americans Re-Sign Forward From Luverne, Minnesota

The Allen Americans have announced that they have re-signed 6’2″ forward Chaz Smedsrud for the 2024-25 ECHL season.

Junior and Collegiate Career

Chaz Smedsrud started his junior career in the 2016-17 season with the Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL. In his two seasons with the Hounds, he played in 103 games where he had 44 goals and 50 assists for 94 points with 40 penalty minutes. The Hounds made the playoffs in both seasons. Smedsrud was with them; he played in 12 playoff games, where he had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points with 18 penalty minutes. Smedsrud then played for the Madison Capitols in the USHL in the 2018-19 season, playing in 62 games where he had 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points. He had 16 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -18.

Smedsrud spent his collegiate career at Union College playing Division I hockey. He spent five seasons at Union but only played in four seasons because of the college opting out of play in the 2020-21 season due to COVID. In his four seasons of playing, Smedsrud played in 141 games, where he had 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points. He had 32 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -20. Smedsrud was on the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team in the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 seasons. He was also an assistant captain for the team in the 2023-24 season.

Professional Career

After completing his collegiate career in the 2023-24 season, Smedsrud signed with the Allen Americans in the ECHL to finish his season. Smedsrud played in nine games with the Americans, scoring three goals and adding four assists for seven points. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1. He also scored one goal in four playoff games. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to return to the Americans,” noted Smedsrud. “I can’t wait to get back on the ice with the guys and play in front of the best fans in the league”

-Smedsrud on re-signing with the Americans (Via Allen Americans Press Release)

The 2024-25 season will still be considered Smedsrud’s rookie season, as a rookie is any player who has played in less than 25 professional hockey games.