ECHL: Allen Americans Sign Van Unen Twins

Latoya Fournier/InsideTheRink

The Allen Americans have announced that they have signed twin brothers, forward Rylan Van Unen and defenseman Mike Van Unen for the 2024-25 ECHL season. The brothers are both 6’1″ and from Kamloops, British Columbia.

Rylan’s Junior and Collegiate Career

Both brothers spent their junior careers in the BCHL with the Merritt Centennials. Rylan started his junior career in the 2016-17 season and spent four seasons with Merritt. In his 212 games played, he had 47 goals and 42 assists for 89 points. He had 203 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. Rylan played in the postseason in three of the four seasons. He played in 16 playoff games, where he had three goals and three assists for six points. He had ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. Rylan captained the team in the 2019-20 season.

After completing his junior career, Rylan joined his brother at Northern Michigan University, where he has played the last four seasons. Rylan played in 84 games at Northern Michigan, where he had 13 goals and seven assists for 20 points. He had 111 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -8.

Mike’s Junior and Collegiate Career

Mike also started his junior career in the 2016-17 season but only spent three seasons with Merritt. He played in 145 games with the Centennials, where he had seven goals and 39 assists for 46 points. He had 186 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. Mike played in the playoffs all three seasons with the Centennials. In his 16 playoff games played, Mike had two goals and two assists for four points. He had 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.

After three years in juniors, Mike decided to take the next step and start his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Northern Michigan University. In his five seasons with Northern Michigan, Mike played in 150 games where he had nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points. He had 181 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -27.

Mike’s Professional Career

After completing his collegiate career at Northern Michigan, Mike signed with the Adirondack Thunder in the ECHL to finish off his 2023-24 season. He played in 11 games where he had one assist. He had 17 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. The 2024-25 season will be both Mike and Rylan’s rookie seasons.

insidetherink.com/join-us

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Felicity Harding

Hello! I'm Felicity and I mainly cover the Rapid City Rush in the ECHL here at Inside the Rink. You can find me on Instagram and X/Twitter at @fharding05

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Wichita Thunder Announce Re-Signing of Three Forwards

The Wichita Thunder have announced that they have re-signed forwards Peter Bates, Jay Dickman, and Michal Stinil. Peter Bates’ Junior and Collegiate Career The 6’1″ forward from Evanston, Illinois, started his junior career in the NAHL, where he spent three seasons. During that time, Bates played with the Johnstown Tomahawks, Michigan Warriors, Lone Star Brahmas, […]

Read More

ECHL: Derek Army Leaves Wheeling Nailers For AHL Gig

It was a busy day for coaches in the ECHL, as Terrence Wallin would leave the Maine Mariners to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and later in the day, Derek Army would leave the Wheeling Nailers to join the Colorado Eagles. Army, 34, spent led the Nailers to a 43-25-4 mark during the 2024-25 season, […]

Read More

ECHL: Utah Grizzlies Sign Pair of Defensemen

The Utah Grizzlies have announced that they have signed 5’11” defenseman Avery Winslow and 6’2″ defenseman Colby Enns for the 2025-26 season. Avery Winslow’s Junior Career The St. Pete Beach, Florida native started his junior career in the BCHL in the 2018-19 season playing for the Wenatchee Wild. In his one season with the Wild, […]

Read More