Hockey News Made in Allen TX

The Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League have done something the Dallas Stars haven’t been able to accomplish in quite a while – they moved the hockey interest needle in North Texas Monday evening.  By introducing former Stars Ed Belfour, Craig Ludwig, Richard Matvichuk and Mike Modano as new minority owners of the club, they had fans and members of the media alike turn out to the Allen Event Center.

Americans majority owner Doug Miller and president Matt Canavan managed to pull off something that caught many by surprise – they were able to connect the CHL team and it’s growing fan base back to the icons of Dallas Stars hockey during the Stanley Cup years. Mr. Miller spoke to the character and competitive fires of the four former NHLers, and what they can bring to the table both on and off the ice.  He made it clear that these aren’t ceremonial positions, and the four actually had a great amount of input on the hiring of the Americans’ new head coach, Steve Martinson, who initially contacted Ludwig when he heard of the opening in Allen. Matvichuk in particular will be involved in the on the ice product (behind the bench coaching the defensemen), while the other three will assume both business and hockey operation roles.