The Allen Americans lost their 2026-27 ECHL season opener 5-4 to the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Head Coach and General Manager Steve Martinson's squad outshot Tulsa 35-32 but could not overcome a third-period Oilers goal, according to the ECHL box score.
Chase Coughlin opened the scoring at 2:43 of the first period, with assists from Michael Gildon and Hank Crone. Miko Matikka added another first-period goal at 14:18, assisted by Crone and Spencer Asuchak.
Sam Lipkin and Mathieu De St. Phalle each scored in the second period. Tulsa's Zachary Murray netted the lone third-period goal at 5:34 to break a 4-4 tie.
Crone, a Dallas-Fort Worth native and former ECHL MVP, picked up two assists. Jesper Vikman started in goal.
The loss opens the Americans' 18th season in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Allen carries 10 returning players from the 2025-26 squad that reached the Mountain Division Finals before falling to Kansas City, according to the team's game day preview.
Returning forwards include leading scorer Brayden Watts, Asuchak, Gildon, Crone and Riley Kidney. Defensemen Sam Sedley, Andre Anania, Quinn Warmuth and Jackson Decker are back, along with goaltender Brett Mirwald.
Watts, 27, posted 75 points last season, including 51 assists that ranked second in the ECHL, according to the team's July signing announcement. He and Crone were listed on the reserve roster for the opener.
The Americans added new faces, too. When Martinson signed forwards Anthony Rinaldi and De St. Phalle in July, he said the team "lacked a right-shot, high-end skilled forward up front" and predicted both would "score a lot of goals this year." De St. Phalle delivered with a goal and an assist Saturday.
Defenseman Nolan Kneen returned to Allen after three seasons with the Wichita Thunder. Kneen, 27, last wore an Americans jersey during his 2020-21 rookie year. He assisted on De St. Phalle's second-period goal.
The team also renewed its affiliation with the Ottawa Senators. Swedish goaltender Kevin Reidler, assigned from the AHL's Belleville Senators on Oct. 16, joins the roster. Five players are on loan from Tucson: Lipkin, Matikka, Vikman, Terrell Goldsmith and Noel Nordh.
Allen plays its first four games on the road before the home opener on Thursday, Oct. 29, against the Idaho Steelheads at Comerica Center in Frisco. That daytime game starts at 10:35 a.m., with the first 5,000 fans receiving red glow sticks, Community Impact reported. A second game against Idaho follows Oct. 30 for Military Night.
The Americans' Allen Opening Night at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center, 200 E. Stacy Road, is Nov. 20 against the Kansas City Mavericks. The first 3,500 fans will receive a red rally towel. Season and group tickets are available at 972-912-1000.
