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Kip to be Square: After year overseas, Brennan rejoins Americans
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
In constructing the roster for 2012-13, the Allen Americans have signed a handful of new players while also reaching back to skaters from previous seasons.
Friday’s move was part of the latter category as Allen inked Kip Brennan to a deal.
The 32-year-old forward played for the Americans in 2010-11.
Brennan is equally amped up to return.
“I’m really excited to come back to Allen,” he said. “It’s a great city and the Americans are a great organization to play for. I’ve played with a few of the guys on the team – (Darryl) Bootland, (Chris) Whitley, (Mike) Berube, so it’s going to be fun to be back.”
Brennan brings a veteran presence to the club.
The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder was taken in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the LA Kings. Brennan turned pro in 2000-01 and made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2002. He has played 61 games in the NHL, dispersed among the Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders.
During his time in the NHL and throughout his pro career, Brennan has been noted for his physicality, as evidenced by reaching the 240 penalty minute threshold six times.
That type of intensity was on display in Allen in 2010-11 as Brennan scored 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) but also had a team-high 146 penalty minutes in just 31 games. Allen posted the best regular season record in the league that year, but lost to the eventual CHL Champion Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the playoffs.
“We’re going to make a statement this year,” Brennan said. “It was a hard (playoff) loss that last time I was there. We thought we should have won, but the cards didn’t fall our way. This year we’re in it to win a championship and I want to be a part of it.”
Brennan played for the Chekhov Vityaz of the Kontinental Hockey League last season, amassing 240 penalty minutes in 14 games.
“Kip is as tough as they come,” said Craig Ludwig, Americans minority owner and partner. “He is the kind of player who will help keep other teams honest when they play us. We’re here to win hockey games and we will be a tough team to play against. We want teams to dread facing the Allen Americans because of our work ethic.
“It should be a fun year.”
Allen releases schedule
Players anxious to see Brennan and the rest of the Americans will get the opportunity to do so right at the start of the regular season as Allen has released its 2012-13 schedule and will open with a pair of games at home.
Allen hosts the Arizona Sundogs Oct. 20 at 7:05 p.m. and Oct. 21 at 4:05 p.m.
“We have a lot of fun in store for our fans this season and cannot wait to get hockey started,” said Matt Canavan, Americans president. “The season will be here before we know it.”
After opening with a pair of games at the Allen Event Center, the Americans will be on the road Oct. 26 and 27 against the Texas Brahmas.
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