Sports > Schools
Back to the Future: Musitelli returns to Americans for 2012-13 season
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
What's old is new again.
Just weeks after signing Jarret Lukin for the 2012-13 season, the Allen Americans have brought back another player from their inaugural season with the acquisition of Nino Musitelli.
The forward from Macomb, Mich., played four seasons at Miami of Ohio from 2004-08 before coming to Allen in 2009-10.
Musitelli made an instant impact as the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder was third on the club in points with 23 goals and 40 assists. The Americans advanced to the CHL Finals that year and posted the best regular season record in the league in 2010-11 thanks in part to Musitelli, who was third on the team in points again with 34 goals and 37 assists.
Musitelli was traded to Dayton after the season, but never played for the Gems.
"I had two great years in Allen," Musitelli said. "This is a great organization and I'm looking forward to playing in [head coach Steve Martinson's] system."
Allen begins its fourth season in the CHL in mid- to late-October.
Team adds a new face
In an attempt to vary its roster for the upcoming season, Allen signed right winger Bradley Gallant on Friday.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder spent the last four years with St Thomas University. His best season came in 2011-12 when he amassed 16 points in 26 games. Prior to that, Gallant spent three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior League (two with Cape Breton and one with Prince Edward Island).
"Brad is a hard-nosed hockey player," said Steve Martinson, Americans head coach. "I saw him in camp with Syracuse a few years back while I was coaching in Elmira. He's a tough kid, much like his brother Brett, who played several games at the American Hockey League level."
Gallant is the fifth player Allen has signed, joining Musitelli, Lukin, Jason Deitsch and Tyler Ludwig.
Register headed to Tulsa
While Musitelli and Gallant coming back into the Allen fold, the Americans will not have the services of Matthew Register as he has signed with the Tulsa Oilers.
"It's always great to be in a new place and I'm excited for a fresh start in Tulsa," Register said. "Having faced the Oilers last year, I knew they were a gritty, hard-working team."
Before beginning his pro career, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman spent four seasons in the junior ranks with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Register came to Allen last year and played 22 games with the Americans, registering one goal, three assists and a +4 along the way.
"I think the way [Tulsa head coach Bruce Ramsay] runs things will be a better fit for me," Register said, "and I know he's going to help me become a better hockey player."
Register skated against the Oilers twice in 2011-12.
"Matt is a young, up-and-coming defenseman with tremendous upside," Ramsay said. "When we played against him last year I saw a lot of positive things in his game. I expect him to provide some offense for us and to be very solid in our zone."
Allen youth hockey camp approaching
The Americans will hold their annual youth hockey camp July 11-13 at the AEC's community ice rink.
The clinic is set up to be fun and challenging, providing children ages 6-12 the opportunity to develop and build their hockey skills. Drills will be run by current Allen players with appearances by former NHL standouts Mike Modano, Craig Ludwig and Ed Belfour, each of whom won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1998-99. The camp costs $295 per person and includes 4.5 hours of ice sessions as well as sports-related recreational activities (Top Golf, etc.), a free camp jersey, lunches and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Americans' locker room.
For more information or to register, go to: allenamericans.com or call: 972-912-1000.
Just weeks after signing Jarret Lukin for the 2012-13 season, the Allen Americans have brought back another player from their inaugural season with the acquisition of Nino Musitelli.
The forward from Macomb, Mich., played four seasons at Miami of Ohio from 2004-08 before coming to Allen in 2009-10.
Musitelli made an instant impact as the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder was third on the club in points with 23 goals and 40 assists. The Americans advanced to the CHL Finals that year and posted the best regular season record in the league in 2010-11 thanks in part to Musitelli, who was third on the team in points again with 34 goals and 37 assists.
Musitelli was traded to Dayton after the season, but never played for the Gems.
"I had two great years in Allen," Musitelli said. "This is a great organization and I'm looking forward to playing in [head coach Steve Martinson's] system."
Allen begins its fourth season in the CHL in mid- to late-October.
Team adds a new face
In an attempt to vary its roster for the upcoming season, Allen signed right winger Bradley Gallant on Friday.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder spent the last four years with St Thomas University. His best season came in 2011-12 when he amassed 16 points in 26 games. Prior to that, Gallant spent three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior League (two with Cape Breton and one with Prince Edward Island).
"Brad is a hard-nosed hockey player," said Steve Martinson, Americans head coach. "I saw him in camp with Syracuse a few years back while I was coaching in Elmira. He's a tough kid, much like his brother Brett, who played several games at the American Hockey League level."
Gallant is the fifth player Allen has signed, joining Musitelli, Lukin, Jason Deitsch and Tyler Ludwig.
Register headed to Tulsa
While Musitelli and Gallant coming back into the Allen fold, the Americans will not have the services of Matthew Register as he has signed with the Tulsa Oilers.
"It's always great to be in a new place and I'm excited for a fresh start in Tulsa," Register said. "Having faced the Oilers last year, I knew they were a gritty, hard-working team."
Before beginning his pro career, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman spent four seasons in the junior ranks with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Register came to Allen last year and played 22 games with the Americans, registering one goal, three assists and a +4 along the way.
"I think the way [Tulsa head coach Bruce Ramsay] runs things will be a better fit for me," Register said, "and I know he's going to help me become a better hockey player."
Register skated against the Oilers twice in 2011-12.
"Matt is a young, up-and-coming defenseman with tremendous upside," Ramsay said. "When we played against him last year I saw a lot of positive things in his game. I expect him to provide some offense for us and to be very solid in our zone."
Allen youth hockey camp approaching
The Americans will hold their annual youth hockey camp July 11-13 at the AEC's community ice rink.
The clinic is set up to be fun and challenging, providing children ages 6-12 the opportunity to develop and build their hockey skills. Drills will be run by current Allen players with appearances by former NHL standouts Mike Modano, Craig Ludwig and Ed Belfour, each of whom won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1998-99. The camp costs $295 per person and includes 4.5 hours of ice sessions as well as sports-related recreational activities (Top Golf, etc.), a free camp jersey, lunches and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Americans' locker room.
For more information or to register, go to: allenamericans.com or call: 972-912-1000.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News