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D.A.R.R.Y.L.: Former NHL player Bootland signs with Americans (UPDATE)
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Having previously addressed the blue line with the signing of Trevor and Tyler Ludwig, the Allen Americans focused on offense this week with the inking of forward Darryl Bootland for the 2012-13 season.
"Darryl is a prototypical power forward; skilled and tough," said Steve Martinson, Americans head coach. "He is a nasty guy to play against that has a great scoring touch."
That touch has evolved during a 12-year pro career that includes time in the NHL.
In between NHL stints, Bootland has racked up points in the minors.
Bootland's best statistical season came in 2005-06 when he scored 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists) in 77 games with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.
"You can't score 27 goals in the AHL without skill," Martinson said. "[Bootland] will show our young wingers exactly how we want them to play."
The 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward has CHL experience as well, playing for the Odessa Jackalopes in 2010-11. Bootland went from the CHL to the East Coast Hockey League last season where he posted 53 points (25 goals, 28 assists) for the Kalamazoo Wings.
Another addition up front
Bootland wasn't the only forward Allen inked in the past week though as the team also came to terms with 6-foot, 195-pound Chris Doyle.
The native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was taken by the New York Rangers in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He played juniors with Prince Edward Island of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, scoring 204 points, before moving to the ECHL. There, he netted 34 points in a combined 41 games with the South Carolina Stingrays, Stockton Thunder and Reading Royals.
Doyle is the 10th Americans player under contract for the upcoming season with the team previously signing Bootland, the Ludwig twins, Jason Deitsch, Brian McMillin, Jarret Lukin, Nino Musitelli, Mike Berube and Brad Gallant.
Allen begins training camp in October and will play its first home game Oct. 20.
Cousineau signs with Anaheim Ducks
While getting players that were taken in the NHL Draft is big for the Americans, this is familiar territory for Allen with Bruce Graham and Marco Cousineau serving as prime examples.
The latter of those players is headed back to the NHL.
Cousineau was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round in 2008, but made his way to the Americans in 2011-12.
Cousineau made a quick impression as he posted a 16-4-4 record with a 2.53 goals against average and a .918 save percentage en route to being named to the CHL All-Star Team. Not only did Cousineau get his first professional all-star nod, those numbers also got him a call-up to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL.
Now, Cousineau has signed a one-year NHL contract with the team that drafted him.
Benn inks two-way deal with Dallas Stars
Jordie Benn, the first Americans player to make it to the NHL after being in Allen, looks like he might be headed to the top level of hockey once more.
Benn got an early birthday present Wednesday as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars a day before turning 25.
Benn was a big part of the Americans' inaugural season in 2009-10. He accumulated 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) and 55 penalty minutes in the regular season and posted 11 points in 20 playoff games on the blue line as Allen advanced to the CHL Finals before losing the Ray Miron President's Cup to the Rapid City Rush.
Benn spent the bulk of the next two seasons with the AHL's Texas Stars.
The Victoria, British Columbia native made his NHL debut Jan. 3 against the Detroit Red Wings. In that game, Benn became the 10th player in Stars history to record his first NHL point in his first NHL game. Benn registered an assist along with his brother Jamie on a goal by Loui Eriksson. Jordie and Jamie were the sixth pair of siblings to play a game together in franchise history.
Jordie collected two assists in three games with the Stars.
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