3x Continental Cup Champions
9x NA Conference Champions
4x Victory Cup Winners
It has not always been an easy road for the New York Americans. They never rose to glory as the Hamilton Canucks and especially struggled during the "shortbus era". This era made the Americans the laughing stock of the league and no one saw anything on the horizon that could turn it around. With a little bit of luck and some excellent leadership, the New York Americans would become a staple in the playoffs. Always a contender during their prime years with Braxton and Glover, they always seemed to just come up short on winning that elusive Continental Cup. It wouldn't be until those two superstars retired that the Americans won their first cup since Season Fourteen, much thanks to the likes of Radislav Mjers and eventual Hall of Fame superstar, Tukka Reikkinen. Even through the years of David Smalling, Phil Rafter and Alexander Labatte, the Americans still remained one of the top teams in the league. After a quick rebuild, New York once again build a team full of stars and attitudes that would not only drive other teams nuts, but made a lot of players want to suit up in the blue, red and white. Forty seasons in and we have seen the ups and the downs of the New York Americans. With all that being said though, it is a team full of rich history, and one that deserves to be fully recognized.
FORWARD - JUKKA HAKKINEN (S18-S25)
576 GP --- 363 G --- 412 A --- 775 P --- 42 GWG
While he may not have a very illustrious trophy case, no one can argue the impact that Jukka Hakkinen left on the New York Americans franchise. He was a significant part of the resurgence the team experienced, and while he never was on a Continental Cup winning team, without his influence the team may never have had the success they would go on to have long after Jukka retired. With 363 goals and 775 points, Jukka Hakkinen is easily first all-time for the New York Americans in both categories. He also slots in second for assists (412) and game-winning goals (42). Safe to say, Jukka has had a huge impact on the Americans and with his tremendous success, he eventually became a VHL Hall of Fame player. He spent every single season on New York, even when there were troubled times. While the only award he would ever win was the Francis Trophy (for most sportsmanlike), he won the fans over with every single game he played.
FORWARD - GRIMM JONSSON (S10-S14)
360 GP --- 150 G --- 283 A --- 433 P --- 611 HITS
One of the best to ever wear the Americans sweater, Grimm Jonsson helped put New York on the map in the VHL. Jonsson played five seasons for the Americans, putting up amazing numbers with 150 goals, 283 assists in just 360 games. Jonsson also help New York do something no other player had done to that point which was helping bring the Continental Cup to New York. A leader on and off the ice during his entire eight year career in the Victory Hockey League, the league renamed the Messier Trophy, an award the Hall of Fame center won three times over his career, to the Grimm Jonsson Trophy in his honour in Season Thirty-One. Jonsson was a three time league MVP and one of the best centers to ever play in the VHL; some believe his name belongs alongside the likes of Scotty Campbell and Sterling Labatte, in some of the greatest players to ever play in the VHL.
FORWARD - ODIN TORDAHL (S37-S40)
252 GP --- 202 G --- 220 A --- 422 P --- 677 HITS --- 43 GWG
Odin Tordahl is listed as New York's top right winger in franchise history. Not only is Tordahl one of the best players of his generation, but also he is one of New York's greatest players of all-time being and remaining as one of the top forwards in the VHL for each of his four seasons with the team. Three straight 50 goal and 100+ point campaigns put the Norwegian winger in rare company on New York's all-time lists. Not only was Tordahl a prolific scorer, but an all around player of many talents, including physicality and leadership. The surefire Hall of Famer is currently playing his last season with the Americans after his MVP winning campaign in Season 39 which also saw the captain of the Americans lead them to the third Continental Cup in franchise history. Boom will be remembered in New York as a great leader and an all around well loved character.
DEFENSEMAN - DANIEL BRAXTON (S24-S29, S31)
504 GP --- 162 G --- 423 A --- 585 P --- 1307 HITS --- 914 SB
Perhaps one of the biggest no-brainer inclusions possible, Daniel Braxton is easily not just one of the greatest New York Americans ever, but one of the best players to ever set foot in the Victory Hockey League. You can ignore his ridiculous stats if you want to and even poke fun at the fact that he never won a Continental Cup, but no one can possibly argue against his trophy case. With four Labatte Trophies won, he is tied for the most ever with currently active defender and his partner on this team, Conner Low. Braxton was the first to win four Labatte Trophies, passing the likes of Sterling Labatte, Tomas Jenskovic and Jochen Walser. On top of that, he won the Player's MVP Trophy (Brett Slobodzian Trophy) on two different occasions and even added a Messier Trophy to boot. In addition, he sits first all-time for the Americans in assists and in hits, showing that his long-time dedication to the team should not go unnoticed. To finish with a cherry on top, Braxton has the most games played, assists, points, hits and blocked shots in playoff history for the Americans. While he may have never won a Continental Cup, he was the heart and soul of New York for an entire generation, and easily one of the best players to ever play the game.
DEFENSEMAN - CONNER LOW (S36-S40)
324 GP --- 97 G --- 325 A --- 422 P --- 1105 HITS --- 594 SB
New York's other top pairing defenseman is another active player, one Conner Low. Low has already established himself as arguably the greatest defenseman in the history of the VHL with a trophy case as big as almost any other player in the history of the league through his first five seasons. Low, a former captain of the Americans is known for his physical and offensive talents, truly being one of the best all-around players in the VHL today. The defenseman has a league record 4 Labatte Trophies (shared with his linemate Daniel Braxton), a Stolzschweiger Trophy as the Top Rookie and two Beketov Trophies as the leading assist producer. Low also led the Americans to one Continental Cup in Season 39. Through five seasons Low had 88 goals, 373 points and 1002 career hits. Low will likely become a career American and will undoubtedly become another New York representative in the Hall of Fame.
GOALTENDER - BENJAMIN GLOVER (S24-S31)
507 GP --- 316-140-37 --- 2.08 GAA --- .922 SV% --- 64 SO
Alongside Daniel Braxton, Benjamin Glover was the heart and soul of the New York Americans during the mid-to-late twenties. Much has been made about how he could not get in done when the team needed it the most, but at the end of the day, Benjamin Glover is still a VHL Hall of Fame goaltender who spent his entire career on New York. He has the most games played (507), wins (316) and shutouts (64) of any goalie in New York history. Glover won the Tretiak Trophy for Top Goaltender two times and was chosen as League MVP (Scotty Campbell Trophy) in Season Twenty-Eight. Even though he took a lot of criticism for his play in the playoffs, he still sits first among New York goalies in games played and wins in the post-season. He is the best goaltender to play for the blue, red and white, and while he gets some criticism at times, we cannot forget the ridiculous success that Benjamin Glover experienced over his illustrious VHL career.
FORWARD - TUKKA REIKKINEN (S29-S32)
257 GP --- 185 G --- 237 A --- 422 P --- 1165 HITS --- 39 GWG
It's pretty crazy that a player who has played in less than four seasons for a team, can have the statistics that Tukka Reikkinen compiled for the New York Americans. Despite the fact that he sits twenty-seventh in games played, he still is seventh in goals, eleventh in assists and ninth in points, to go along with him being third in hits and fourth in game-winning goals. However, the most notable thing Reikkinen has accomplished for New York, is that he was the offensive catalyst on the team that ended the cup curse. With his tremendous performances in the four years he was in New York, Reikkinen sits first all-time for New York Americans in goals (33) during the playoffs. This terrific playoff resume (61 points in 44 games) defined his legacy in New York as one of the most important players in franchise history. While perhaps he did not define an era for the team like Grimm Jonsson, Jukka Hakkinen and Odin Tordahl have done, Reikkinen is still one of the most impactful players in franchise history.
FORWARD - BRANDON AZEVEDO (S11-S15)
360 GP --- 186 G --- 233 A --- 419 P --- 716 HITS --- 26 GWG
Brandon Azevedo is on the all-time team second line (remaining the only player not inducted or soon to be inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame on the line) perhaps not as one of New York's best forwards of all-time, but as a man that was synonymous with the second generation of the New York Americans. Brandon had two players on New York - Brandon Best and Azevedo. The latter was a key cog in changing the image of New York from the least desirable place in the VHL to play to one of the elite teams. As a player, Azevedo played 6 seasons, most of which were with the Americans, helping them to their first Continental Cup in Season 14. Azevedo was a fierce two-way forward recording 220 goals, 498 points, 702 penalty minutes and 969 hits in his 432 career games. Between Best and Azevedo, Brandon's legacy on the franchise extends far beyond in game statistics.
FORWARD - XIN XIE XIAO (S36-S40)
324 GP --- 174 G --- 206 A --- 380 P --- 1369 HITS --- 31 GWG
Season Thirty-Six first round draft choice, Xin Xie Xiao has quickly become one of the best players of all time to play on the wing for the Americans. The power forward has quickly jumped into many of the all-time offensive leaders’ categories in just three season in the league and with the Americans franchise. Xiao currently sits eleventh in goals with 174, twenty-second in assists with 206, which leaves him sitting in seventeen all time for points scored by an American player. Most impressively during his short tenure with the Americans is that he sits first all-time for New York players in hits with 1369.
DEFENSEMAN - DAVID NIGHT (S1-S5)
360 GP --- 125 G --- 241 A --- 366 P --- 319 HITS --- 854 SB
As a member of the Hamilton Canucks (who would eventually be renamed the New York Americans), David Night would establish himself as one of the best defenders of the early generation. While he had to wait a bit to be inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame (Season 17 Class), Night was a tremendous player for the Americans, winning a Top Defender Trophy (was the Orr Trophy at the time). Heralded as one of the best defensive defenders in the early era, Knight still finished with over 500 points in his career (366 of which came with the Americans). While not a lot of people know about him, it is important to recognize the pioneers of the league, and David Night is certainly one of them.
DEFENSEMAN - RYAN SULLIVAN (S33-34)
144 GP --- 46 G --- 167 A --- 213 P --- 573 HITS --- 279 SB
When you talk about some of the greatest defenders of all-time, Ryan Sullivan is usually a name that comes up in the conversation. In fact, it is truly a testament to just how good he was, that he is listed on the second Americans team despite only playing two seasons for the franchise. In these two seasons he would win the Top Defender Trophy on both occasions and also led the league in assists the one year as well. He also was a destructive physical presence, compiling over 500 hits in just 144 games. While this may be a controversial pick, the accolades and the fact that he was the major face of the franchise for two competitive seasons, makes him a deserved pick for our second team.
GOALTENDER - ALEXANDER LABATTE (S33-34)
128 GP --- 86-32-10 --- 1.95 GAA --- .925 SV% --- 15 SO
There were not really many other choices for this spot. While Christ and Trikamaki have a few seasons on Labatte, they really did not experienced much success (especially in comparison with Labatte). While Brick Wahl has the playoff success, he still has been just average during the regular season and has only started for one extra season during his career. Alexander Labatte was acquired in a blockbuster move that allowed New York to continue competing, and he did not disappoint. His first season with the team would see him win the Aidan Shaw Trophy for top goalie in a tremendous and consistent performance throughout the year. His second year was solid too (although a little below the lofty expectations set for him) and he helped New York make the playoffs for a record eleven straight seasons. At this point, Labatte has the best save percentage in New York history and had some good statistics in the playoffs as well. While his career may have been defined elsewhere, Alexander Labatte is definitely the second best goaltender to ever wear the New York jersey.
THE GENERAL MANAGERS
S1-S2: Brett Noiles (-knowlzey-)
S2-S5: Jesus Christ (v2) S6-S9: Robbie Zimmers (RobbieZ) S10-S14: Brandon Best (brandon) S15-S16: Vase Trikamaki (Victor) S17-S18: Sam Helberg (Streetlight) S19-S22: James Assayag (James) S22-S29: Sam Helberg (Streetlight) S30-S32: Ryan Power (Devise22) S33-S40: Chris Miller (Advantage)
As previously mentioned, it was not always an easy time for the New York Americans. For the first ten seasons they were the laughing stock of the league. Between their struggling years as the Canucks and the shortbus years with Robbie managing the team, they could never get off the ground. It was not until Brandon Best came along, that the team started to figure it out. The team's reputation would be rebuilt. Brandon built a successful team that would go on to win the Continental Cup and Victor did a good enough job to keep the team in a good position as he handed the position off to Streetlight. Streetlight and James would trade the spot on two occasions over a four season period, but one thing that stayed consistent was that New York was heading in the right direction.
When Sam Helberg took over in Season Twenty-two, everything just changed for them. Helberg's goalie, Benjamin Glover, would sign with the team just a few seasons later and he was also able to acquire Daniel Braxton to start building the core of what would eventually become what some like to call, a dynasty. Whether or not it was a dynasty, New York would become a perennial contender and set the record for the most consecutive playoff appearances with eleven.
While Helberg could never win a Continental Cup during his tenure, he would hand it off to a man that could. Despite the fact that many felt the Americans were going to have to rebuild, Ryan Power was able to keep the team competitive enough to give them a chance. With a little bit of good fortune, the New York Americans would go on to win their first Continental Cup in eighteen seasons, and ended what was considered the "finals curse."
Ryan Power's reign as GM would be short but he would hand it off to another individual who would find similar success. After a couple of very competitive seasons, Christopher Miller would enter what would be a very short rebuild that transitioned into New York being one of the best teams in the league. After being stunned by Remy LeBeau in the North American Conference Finals, Miller and the rest of the New York Americans would come back the next year and run through the post-season with an 8-1 record, winning the franchises third Continental Cup in its history.
When discussing the General Managers of this team, we did not feel like it was fair to single anyone out. There are a lot of people who contributed to the highs and lows that the Americans had for many years. These individuals helped shape the franchise and should all be celebrated for being a part of New York's history.
THE CAPTAINS
Season 1 - David Night
Season 2 - David Night
Season 3 - Guillaume Latendresse
Season 4 - David Night
Season 5 - David Night
Season 6 - Edward Eldred
Season 7 - Alex Kachur
Season 8 - Brandon Best
Season 9 - Brandon Best
Season 10 - Grimm Jonsson
Season 11 - Grimm Jonsson
Season 12 - Jack O'Riley
Season 13 - Jack O'Riley
Season 14 - Jack O'Riley
Season 15 - Brandon Azevedo
Season 16 - Patrick Bergqvist
Season 17 - Matt Bailey
Season 18 - Patrick Bergqvist
Season 19 - Jukka Hakkinen
Season 20 - Jukka Hakkinen
Season 21 - Japinder Singh
Season 22 - Japinder Singh
Season 23 - Jukka Hakkinen
Season 24 - Jukka Hakkinen
Season 25 - Keon Henderson
Season 26 - Ignatius Feltersnatch
Season 27 - Daniel Braxton
Season 28 - Daniel Braxton
Season 29 - Daniel Braxton
Season 30 - Benjamin Glover
Season 31 - Tukka Reikkinen
Season 32 - Tukka Reikkinen
Season 33 - Alexander Chershenko
Season 34 - Ryan Sullivan
Season 35 - Jack Mason
Season 36 - Conner Low
Season 37 - Conner Low
Season 38 - Conner Low
Season 39 - Odin Tordahl
Season 40 - Odin Tordahl
All-Time Regular Season Statistical Leaders (Skaters)
GAMES PLAYED -> JUKKA HAKKINEN (576)
GOALS -> JUKKA HAKKINEN (363)
ASSISTS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (423)
POINTS -> JUKKA HAKKINEN (775)
PLUS/MINUS -> CONNOR EVANS (+163)
HITS -> XIN XIE XIAO (1369)
SHOT BLOCKS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (914)
GWG -> ODIN TORDAHL (43)
All-Time Regular Season Statistical Leaders (Goalies)
GAMES PLAYED -> BENJAMIN GLOVER (499)
WINS -> BENJAMIN GLOVER (316)
SAVE PERCENTAGE -> ALEXANDER LABATTE, GREG EAGLES (.925)
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE -> ALEXANDER LABATTE (1.95)
SHUTOUTS -> BENJAMIN GLOVER (64)
All-Time Playoffs Statistical Leaders (Skaters)
GAMES PLAYED -> DANIEL BRAXTON (72)
GOALS -> TUKKA REIKKINEN (33)
ASSISTS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (49)
POINTS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (69)
PLUS/MINUS -> CONNOR EVANS (+32)
HITS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (223)
SHOT BLOCKS -> DANIEL BRAXTON (140)
GWG -> TUKKA REIKKINEN (9)
All-Time Playoffs Statistical Leaders (Goalies)
GAMES PLAYED -> BENJAMIN GLOVER (72)
WINS -> BENJAMIN GLOVER (35)
SAVE PERCENTAGE -> BRICK WAHL (.943)
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE -> BRICK WAHL (1.30)
SHUTOUTS -> BRICK WAHL (4)
* RS Goalie Requirements -> 50 Games
* Playoff Goalie Requirements -> 10 Games
Content: 3/3
Woot, nice listen. You sounded quite tired, lmao. But yeah, Klose has been an animal thus far and I feel like New York got the steal of the draft with him.
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