The Allen Americans were founded in 2009 under the Central Hockey League (CHL) in Allen, Texas. They played under the CHL for five seasons before they eventually transitioned to the ECHL in 2014 when the former league folded. The start of the 2023-24 season will mark the 15th season of professional hockey for the Americans. Over the course of those 14 years, the Americans have made five trips to the finals and won four championships, including an impressive four straight titles. Two consecutive Ray Miron President’s Cups in 2013 and 2014 under the CHL and two consecutive Kelly Cups in 2015 and 2016. They would be the first team since 1994 to win back-to-back championships across two different leagues.
Since 2009, the Americans have worked with Dallas and Colorado while in the Central Hockey League. Since joining the ECHL, they have been affiliates for several National Hockey League (NHL) NHL teams – those being Ottawa, San Jose, Minnesota, and Seattle. They were the first NHL affiliate team for the Seattle Kraken with the 2021-22 season but later signed an agreement with the Ottawa Senators in August 2022. This agreement, in conjunction with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators, was renewed for the 2023-24 season on July 11, 2023.
A few alumni of the Americans have played with the NHL, including Goaltenders Kevin Mandolese and Zach Sawchencko. Mandolese was the eighth former ECHL player to make an NHL debut during the 2022-23 season. He tended for both Ottawa and Belleville last season, earning a save percentage of .916. In his six appearances with the Atlanta Gladiators, Mandolese finished with a 2.68 goals-against average and a save percentage of .916 before moving on to the Allen Americans. There, he would finish out the season with a 2.45 goals-against average and a save percentage of .927 in six appearances with the team.
Zach Sawchencko played in 7 games with the San Jose Sharks and ended the 2021-22 season with a .901 save percentage and a 3.35 goals-against average. Last year, he tended for the AHL team, the Chicago Wolves, for the 2022-23 season, earning a .895 save percentage after 41 games with the team.
During a press conference held on October 4, 2023, ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin announced that the team would change ownership to Myles and LaSonjia Jack after approving the Transfer of Controlling Interest from the Allen Hockey Team, LLC to ALA Hockey, LLC. Myles Jack is a Former NFL player, most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was just about to start training camp when he announced his retirement. Prior to his retirement, Myles Jack played in six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers. With their new majority interest in the Allen Americans, the Jacks would become the first African-American majority owners in ECHL history.
ECHL Commissioner Crelin stated, “On behalf of the ECHL Board of Governors, we are thankful for Jack Gulati’s ownership over the past six-plus years in Allen, helping to pave the way for this new opportunity in the market. We look forward to the excitement the Jack family, alongside Rev Entertainment and Zawyer Sports, will bring to the Americans and the fan experience at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.”
The Allen Americans will kick off their 15th Anniversary season on the road against the Idaho Steelheads on October 20th.
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