The Allen Americans, along with Head Coach and General Manager Steve Martinson, announced the team has signed an agreement with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and AHL’s Belleville Senators for the 2025-26 season.

The Americans will begin their 17th season of professional hockey this October. Over the previous 16 years, first in the Central Hockey League and then in the ECHL, the Americans have made five trips to the league finals and won four championships.

“We’re proud to once again team up with the Allen Americans as our ECHL affiliate for the 2025-26 season,” Belleville Senators general manager Matt Turek said in a statement. “Having a solid affiliate will be significantly beneficial to both clubs and provide a clear pathway to the NHL.

“We have the utmost trust in the leadership of Coach Steve Martinson and his staff, and we’re confident they’ll provide the right atmosphere for Senators players to continue to grow.”

This marks the third time the Americans and Senators have signed an affiliation agreement. Allen worked with Ottawa/Belleville in 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Several key players have made stops in DFW during that span, including Goalie Leevi Merilainen, who has played a total of 14 games with the Ottawa Senators. 12 of the 14 came last year when he produced a record of 8-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA.

Defenseman Donavan Sebrango and Goalie Kevin Mandolese have also seen action at the NHL level.

Since becoming a Double A franchise in 2009-10, the Americans have worked with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche while in the Central Hockey League, and the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, and Utah since joining the ECHL.

“This affiliation has so much potential for the Americans,” Martinson noted. “Having many conversations with Matt Turek (Belleville Senators GM), and Sean McCauley (Manager of Hockey Operations Ottawa Senators), we know that they like the same style of play as we do in Allen. It’s great to be able to work in concert to add elite players to our roster.”

The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each week, we’ll dig back into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.

A THN subscription gives you access to the magazine’s entire archives dating back to the first issue in 1947 (over 2,000 issues). Click here to subscribe.

(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors.

Mar 3, 1995/vol. 48, issue 24

Langway long way from NHL in ECHL

Two-time Norris Trophy winner Rod Langway, who hasn’t played competitively since Feb. 21, 1993, is attempting a comeback of sorts with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast League.

Langway, 37, parted company with the Washington Capitals on less than friendly terms after the 15-year yeter-an was told he would no longer be playing every game because the club wanted to work younger legs into the lineup. Langway was six games short of his 1,000th NHL contest.

Craig Laughlin, Richmond general manager and a former teammate of Langway with the Montreal Canadiens and Capitals, said Langway’s performance would be assessed on a game-by-game basis.

“I told him I didn’t want to put his life in jeopardy for a minor league team,” Laughlin said.

ECHL teams are allowed to dress three veterans. Langway will be used as a player and defensive tutor.

Laughlin and team president Harry Feuerstein said there were no immediate aims for Langway to attempt an NHL return.

The Renegades are averaging 5,700 fans a night and Feuerstein denied this was a publicity stunt to fill more seats.

“You don’t do publicity stunts with a team that’s in first place,” he said.

“Stunt assumes there’s some sham involved, that something’s wrong. The reality is Rod wants to play and promote the game.”

Langway has spent the past two years perfecting his golf game.

NOTEBOOK: The Capitals completed the first quarter of their schedule winless (0-6-2) on the road. In their first 12 games overall, they scored a league-low 22 goals, only nine at even strength…The team sent video to the NHL seeking redress after defenseman Jim Johnson received a two-handed slash across his left wrist from the Philadelphia Flyers’ Eric Lindros Feb. 13

—Dave Fay

Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush

The Rapid City Rush, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, announced Friday the two clubs have agreed to terms on a multi-year affiliation extension.

The agreement will keep the Rush partnered with the Flames and the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League.

“The Rush and Flames have had an excellent relationship, and we are excited to continue that,” Dave Smith, Rush Head Coach and General Manager, said in a statement. “The communication has been great. It is all about the progression of each player’s skills in a championship-type environment where they are working on their game, while also helping to provide Rapid City with the tools we need to win.”

In 2024-25, seven members of the Rush also saw time in Calgary with the Wranglers, totaling 72 games played. Five of them made their American Hockey League debuts this past season.

Former Rush forward Rory Kerins made his National Hockey League debut in January, making him the first player to graduate through all three levels of the Rapid City/Calgary system. He is the eighth Rush alumnus to reach the NHL.

In total, 14 members of the Rush have suited up for the Wranglers and/or Flames since the affiliation began in 2022.

“The Calgary Flames are pleased to extend our affiliation agreement with Rapid City,” Brad Pascall, Assistant General Manager of the Flames, noted. “Rapid City is a great place to play and they are an organization with great ownership, and that share our principles and objectives regarding player development.”

Since their move from Stockton, Calif. to Calgary, the Wranglers have posted winning seasons and playoff berths in all three years, including a 51-win season in 2022-23, the first year of the Rush-Calgary partnership.

Meanwhile, the up-and-coming Flames are coming off their winningest season in three years.

“This is an important day for the Rush organization,” Jared Reid, President of the Rush, stated. “Our relationship with Calgary has never been stronger. Their commitment to player development, vision and dedication to winning make this a true partnership and I am excited to continue that.”

The Flames are the Rush’s third affiliate in franchise history. Rapid City was partnered with the Arizona Coyotes from 2015-17, and again from 2019-22. The Rush were also affiliated with the Minnesota Wild for the 2017-18 season.

(Photo Courtesy of the Idaho Steelheads)

The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each week, we’ll dig back into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.

A THN subscription gives you access to the magazine’s entire archives dating back to the first issue in 1947 (over 2,000 issues). Click here to subscribe.

(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors; we have left the article in its original digitized form).

Oct 12, 2004/vol. 58, issue 7

Focus on ECHL in lockout year

Strong, balanced Titans get nod over Steelheads in quest for Kelly Cup

BY MIKE MASTOVICH

The ECHL may be a feeder system for the American League and, ultimately, the NHL, but for this season at least, the system will work in reverse.

With the NHL locked out, many players are heading to the ’A’, bumping other good prospects down to the ECHL.

Though ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna says he hopes the NHL and union work things out soon, he admits the lockout will have a short-term benefit for his league.

“It means fewer recalls of our players because of injuries at the NHL level,” he said. “That means more continuity on qur rosters.”

Here’s our projected overall finish for 2004-05:

1. TRENTON TITANS Trenton returns a solid nucleus and added free agent veteran right winger Rick Kowalsky. Left wingers Matt Zultek and Scott Bertoli and center Chris Pittman led the scoring last year on a team that just missed earning a wild card playoff spot; all three are back. Also back are goalie Andrew Allen and veteran captain Vince Williams, who anchors the defense. Top newcomers are speedy center Steve Cygan and blueliner Evan Nielsen.

2. IDAHO STEELHEADS The Kelly Cup champions have the tools to defend their title. They signed eight players from last year’s team and added an NHL affiliation with Phoenix and an AHL link with Utah. The returnees include blueliner lererny Mylymok and forward Scott Burt, both fifth-year Steelheads. Also back are forwards David Cornacchia and Brett Draney and blueliners Darrell Hay and Dan Vandermeer.

3. FLORIDA EVERBLADES Florida, which fell to Idaho in the Kelly Cup final, will receive solid help from Carolina and also from Lowell of the AHL, as 12 players with two-way contracts are set to attend camp. Goalie Rob Zepp began the season in Lowell’s camp, but chances are he’ll be back to bolster the Blades. Other key returnees are forward Brent McDonald, who averaged a point a game last year, and blueliners Matt Pagnutti, Ryan Brindley and Ed Hill.

4. READING ROYALS Coach Derek Clancey will count on high-scoring returnee David Masse to ignite the offense. The Royals will have plenty of experience and a considerable talent pool from Los Angeles and Manchester (AHL). Leading scorer Greg Mischler and right winger Judd Medak are also back. The team has three of its top five scorers from last season.

5. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS Already tough team got even stronger.

6. GWINNETT GLADIATORS Veteran sniper Cam Brown returns for 13th year.

7. LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS Tough to beat in Sin City.

8. SAN DIEGO GULLS Bent on erasing playoff disappointment.

9. COLUMBIA INFERNO A lot of firepower.

10. PEORIA RIVERMEN Always found near the top of the division.

11. ALASKA ACES Continue slow turnaround of fortunes.

12. WHEELING NAILERS Ended five-year playoff drought last year.

13. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS Thirteen players return.

14. GREENVILLE GRRROWLVast improvement expected.

15. ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK BULLIES Will win with defense-first philosophy.

16. MISSISSIPPI SEA WOLVES ECHL vet Louis Dumont fronts team.

17. PENSACOLA ICE PILOTS New era begins under coach Dave Farrish.

18. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS Eduard Pershin returns after scoring 139 points in two years.

19. AUGUSTA LYNX Goaltender Jason Saal had a team-record five shutouts last year.

20. PEE DEE PRIDE Builds from within, without NHL affiliation.

21. LONG BEACH ICE DOGS New ties with Montreal Canadiens will boost lineup.

22. LOUISIANA ICEGATORS In transition after coach Dave Farrish’s departure.

23. TOLEDO STORM Speedy Nick Parillo fronts offense.

24. VICTORIA SALMON KINGS Expansion team’s motto this season: “Nobody’s Lunch.”

25. DAYTON BOMBERS Co-owner Don MacAdam also jumps into coaching duties.

26. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS Add leadership in Kevin St. Jacques and his career 849 points.

27. TEXAS WILDCATTERS Franchise hopes for strong second-year campaign.

28. FRESNO FALCONS Opponents outscored Falcons 275-187 last season. I

YOUNG ECHL

Here are the top 23-and-tinders who have been drafted by NHL teams.

FIRST TEAM

G Simon Lajeunesse, 23. Fresno

Ottawa, 48th overall, 1999

D Jared Newman, 22, Florida

Carolina, 110th overall, 2000

D Tim Branham, 23, Texas

Vancouver, 93rd overall, 2000

F Mathieu Brunelle, 21, Trenton

Philadelphia, 201st overall, 2002

F Nicolas Corbeil, 21, Mississippi

Toronto, 88th overall, 2001

F Carl Mallette, 23, Greenville

Atlanta. 107th overall, 2000

SECOND TEAM

G Nick Boucher, 23, Pee Dee

Pittsburgh, 280th overall, 2000

D Joe Martin, 23, Greenville

Chicago, 193rd overall, 2000

D Craig Olynick, 22, Toledo

Detroit, 166th overall, 2002

F Dusty Jamieson, 23, Charlotte

Montreal, 136th overall, 1999

F Derek Krestanovich, 21, Fresno

Washington, 92nd overall, 2002

F Russell Spence, 22, Greenville

Phoenix, 280th overall, 2002

The Rapid City Rush are teaming up with the YMCA of Rapid City to host their first-ever NHL STREET learn-to-play-hockey camp on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 9:30 – 11:00 Am.

Members of the Rush organization and the local hockey community will be in attendance to run the clinic, which will feature hands-on instruction, skills stations, and scrimmages. Registration is open for all kids aged seven through 12, with no prior hockey experience required. All equipment will be provided, and families do not have to be YMCA members to participate.

“The YMCA brings our youth together as a community to celebrate fun and wellness.” Elaina Kempin, Marketing Director for the YMCA of Rapid City, said in a statement. “Our wonderful partnership with the Rapid City Rush helps us achieve our mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

Launched in 2023, NHL STREET is the official youth hockey league of the National Hockey League. It is designed to provide kids and their families with the best of what youth sports can be: having fun, staying active, making friends and creating great memories. This is the first NHL STREET initiative offered in the state of South Dakota.

“NHL STREET was created to bring the love of hockey to more kids in more communities—and this event is a great example of that mission in action,” Savannah Green, Director of Community Relations and Social Engagement for the Rush, said. “When you combine the energy of the Rush with the reach of community organizations like the YMCA, you unlock something really powerful.”

The YMCA of Rapid City is located at 815 Kansas City St., Rapid City, SD 57701. Registration is $35 per child. All participants will take home a custom NHL STREET hockey jersey.

For more information about Street Camp, click here.

The Rush will kick off their 2025-26 regular season in Independence, Missouri against the Kansas City Mavericks on Friday, Oct. 17. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 Pm MT.

(Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush)