In the short, but storied history of the Allen Americans franchise, there have been a number of standout players. Players who have shown their greatness in the ECHL and then moved up to other leagues, or the ultimate level of hockey success, the NHL. One of those players put up historic numbers at the ECHL level.
There are also those players who have moved to the next level, not solely on the basis of goals and assists scored, but because they were willing to do what their team required, and in doing so, made their team better.
Aaron Dell
Aaron Dell is a goaltender in the most elite hockey league in the world.
Dell played collegiate hockey with the University of North Dakota where he surpassed Ed Belfour’s record for wins in a season. In his first season with the Allen Americans Dell played 44 games and was a part of the teams first CHL championship. He then played 29 games with the Utah Grizzlies in the 2013-14 season before returning to the Allen Americans for the 2014-15 season.
2014-15 was Allen’s first season in the ECHL and it would be Aaron Dell’s final games in the league After having played 12 games, Dell would make the move up to the AHL with the Worcester Sharks. For the 2015-16 season, Dell would remain in the league, playing 40 games with the San Jose Barracuda. The following season, Dell would sign with the San Jose Sharks and would serve in a backup role to Martin Jones. On October 18, 2016, Aaron Dell made his first start in the NHL and backstopped his team in a win against the New York Islanders.
Though his time with the Americans was relatively short, he is still fondly remembered in the stands and concourses of the Allen Events Center. Those lucky to wear a Dell game worn jersey to a game will get a knowing look from those fans who were also fortunate to see him play.
Aaron Dell’s contract with San Jose runs through the 2019-20 regular season. His future with San Jose is currently uncertain.
Chad Costello
Chad Costello has made history in the ECHL. Born in Johnston, Iowa, Costello has arguably enjoyed the most success of his hockey career in the ECHL. His ECHL numbers are extremely impressive. Particularly impressive – his time with the Allen Americans.
At 5,9 and 170 pounds, Costello is not a large player, but his shot is very quick and is usually from excellent positioning. Where he really excels though, is in his ability to move the puck in the offensive zone. In Allen’s 2014-15 Championship season, Costello led the ECHL in scoring with a total of 125 points.
84 of those points were assists. Costello would repeat as ECHL scoring champion again in 2015-16 with 103 points (24 goals, 79 assists) and would again end the season hoisting the league’s Kelly Cup. In Costello’s final season with the Americans, Costello would win ECHL scoring once more with 33 goals and 89 assists. This would make for a total of 122 points.
Dyson Stevenson
Dyson Stevenson is a hockey player, and if he is on your team, he will find a way to make them better.
There are hockey players who are loved because they score goals and there are hockey players who are beloved by their fanbase because they hit hard or drop the gloves readily. Then there are players like Dyson Stevenson who are revered for their ability to do all three. Dyson Stevenson personifies the type of player who is associated with the Allen Americans. Very simply, Dyson Stevenson is hard to play against.
During the 2014-15 season, Stevenson, 21-years-old, only skated in five regular season games played. In the postseason, he played 23 games where he scored three goals for a total of eight points. In all 23 of those games, he played his role which was to disrupt the game of the other team by checking, shooting, and when necessary, punching.
Stevenson would continue to play this role for another two seasons for the Allen Americans. All in all, the native of Saskatchewan would lift the Kelly Cup twice during his tenure with the hockey club.
Stevenson would be claimed by Wichita for the 2017-2018 season. Stevenson was the final component in the completion of a future consideration trade. In his return to the Allen Event Center, Stevenson would often incite anger in the fans in the stands with his aggressive play. That anger was always rooted in the understanding that everyone wished he was still a member of the Americans.
Dyson Stevenson played part of the 2018-19 season on loan to the AHL’s Utica Comets. He would end up signing with the team for the 2019-20 regular season.