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Proud to be an American: Allen hires Steve Martinson as new head coach
Photo courtesy of Chip Crail
By Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Monday night was a scheduled press conference to welcome Mike Modano, Ed Belfour, Richard Matvichuk and Craig Ludwig to the Allen Americans.
And while that was still the case, the event also served as an opportunity to welcome an even newer member to the Allen family as Steve Martinson was announced as the second coach and general manager in Americans’ history.
Martinson is replacing Dwight Mullins, who was at the helm in the first three seasons of the franchise’s existence before being let go last month.
That new ownership group includes minority owners Modano, Belfour and Ludwig, all members of the Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Championship team in 1998-99.
“There is a target on the back of this team and there should be,” Ludwig said. “We know now with this group here, there’s a bigger bull’s-eye, but we accept that.”
That bull’s-eye has been on Allen’s back ever since the franchise formed in 2009-10 and had immediate success, advancing to the CHL Finals in its inaugural season. The Americans have had the best record in the league over the past three seasons, but a title has continually eluded them.
The new coach and ownership group are looking to change that.
“I can say that we all played a little differently when we played together,” Modano said, “but I think deep down we knew what it took to win, and the sacrifices and dedication to the game that it took. We hope we bring that here.”
Martinson will be joined on the bench by defensive coach and assistant general manager Richard Matvichuk, another member of the Stars’ Stanley Cup squad. The two will work alongside Bill McDonald in assembling this year’s roster. McDonald was the associate coach under Mullins and the Americans had announced he would not be retained last month.
Martinson joins the club with plenty of experience on the ice and behind the bench.
As a player, Martinson was a two-time NCAA All-Star selection at St. Cloud State. The Minnetonka, Minn. native would eventually make it to the NHL, but not before a few notable stops on the minor league circuit. Martinson won a title in the old CHL with the Tulsa Oilers in 1983-84 and set the American Hockey League record for major penalties in a season with 49 while recording 432 total penalty minutes for the Hershey Bears in 1985-86.
Martinson played for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadians and Minnesota North Stars in the NHL for spurts from 1987-92.
Martinson carries a similarly stout coaching resume.
The new Americans leader won five West Coast Hockey League Championships with the San Diego Gulls (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2000-01, 2002-03) and a United Hockey League Title with the Rockford Ice Hogs (2006-07). Martinson has spent the past four seasons in the East Coast Hockey League; his Chicago Express team went 34-26-12 last season.
“When I talked to [Martinson], I told him there’s a very good chance you’ll have five guys (Modano, Belfour, Ludwig, Matvichuk and minority owner Steve Duchesne, another NHL alum) who think they’re smarter than you and will be looking over your shoulder,” said Doug Miller, Americans majority owner. “He told me he was fine with that, and that sold me. We want people who can handle the pressure and want the pressure.”
Martinson and his new team will hold an open house and open skate from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Allen Event Center.
Deitsch re-signs with Americans
Allen’s signing spree has carried over to the ice as well with captain Jason Deitsch re-upping with the team for 2012-13.
Deitsch, who was named Playoff MVP when the Texas Brahmas won the Presidents’ Cup in 2008-09, led the Americans in postseason scoring last season as the forward posted four goals and four assists in six games against his former team. The 32-year-old Cincinnati native ranked second on the team in scoring during the regular season with 59 points (16 goals, 43 assists).
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Deitsch was the lone Allen player in all 66 games.
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