Schaafsma, Americans Join ECHL

Blenheim’s Jamie Schaafsma will be playing for the same team, in a different league this coming season, as the Allen Americans were one of seven former Central Hockey League teams to be amalgamated into the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) this season.

The ECHL is very pleased to welcome these new Members to the League,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. “These additions strengthen our base in the center of the country and give the ECHL, for the first time, a true national presence. It expands our ability to act as a development league and more closely aligns our number of teams with both the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.

Along with the Americans, the Brampton Beast, Missouri Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers, and Wichita Thunder were also accepted into the ECHL.

Jamie Schaafsma and the Allen Americans are the back-to-back reigning champions of the now defunct CHL, as the league folded as a part of this merger.

Last season, the Blenheim native was named the CHL’s Playoff MVP scoring 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 playoff games en route to the Americans winning the CHL title. During the regular season, Schaafsma had 21 goals and 55 points in 61 games.

Scheduling for the upcoming season has yet to be confirmed for the expansion teams.