Allen Americans Release | ECHL Release
ALLEN, Texas – On Thursday, the Allen Americans of the East Coast Hockey League announced that the club has re-signed former University of Alaska Nanooks defensemen, Aaron Gens, for the 2015-16 season. Â
Gens re-ups with the 2015 Kelly Cup Finals Champions after a 2014-15 season that saw him earn All-ECHL second team honors. The former Nanooks led all defensemen in the league in both points (56) and assists (48). His 56 points set an Allen single-season record for most points by a defenseman.
"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to play in Allen again this upcoming season," said Gens. "Last year was a year that will never be forgotten and I am looking forward to defending the Kelly Cup with the Americans. I want to say thank you to my family and friends in all of the places I've played (in my professional career) for the support."
The Americans, who are associated with the NHL's San Jose Sharks and American Hockey League's San Jose Barracudas, finished the year as one of the hottest teams in the ECHL and rode that momentum all the way to the 2015 Kelly Cup Finals. In the finals, Gens handed out a trio of assists to help Allen to a seven-game series victory over the Carolina Stingrays and win the franchise's first Kelly Cup.
The Baudette, Minnesota native has played a total of 146 career games in the ECHL between the Allen, Reading Royals and Evansville Icemen. Collectively, Gens has recorded 90 points including 15 goals and 75 assists. Prior to his time with the Americans, the defensemen had a short stint in the AHL at the end of the 2011-12 season with the Lake Erie Monsters, picking up a pair of assists.
Prior to turning professional, Gens was a Nanooks defensemen from 2008-2012. During his time with Alaska, he notched 12 goals and 60 assists for 72 points. His best year with the UAF came during the 2010-11 season, where he collected 19 assists in 38 games.
Gens is the fifth Nanook to sign with an ECHL team for the upcoming 2015-16 season, Garrick Perry and Michael Quinn each received qualifying offers with the Cincinnati Cyclones , while Colton Beck is with the Idaho Steelheads.
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