The Allen Americans announced the signing of forward Judd Blackwater on Thursday. Blackwater has two years of pro experience, playing in the ECHL and AHL. (Photo Credit: Sean Blair/Stockton Thunder)
The Allen Americans added another young, successful hockey player on Thursday, signing a former All Star at the ECHL level, Judd Blackwater. The 23-year old forward comes to Allen after playing in the ECHL for two seasons and amassing 78 points (33G, 45A) in 112 games. Blackwater also played 21 games in the AHL during the 2008-2009 season, posting five points in those stints.
Blackwater is a friend of Colton Yellow Horn (the two played together with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder last season) and joined the team at least partially thanks to his influence.
I knew of Blackwater thanks to Stockton’s respectable playoff run in the 2008-2009 season, ending in the Northern Conference semi-finals against the Las Vegas Wranglers. He seemed well-respected by his teammates, and his coach in Stockton, Matt Thomas, once said of him: “Judd possesses one of the nicest set of hands I have ever seen in the game, let alone our league.”
Allen is adding a strong playmaker who has competed at an all-star level in a very comparable league, and that is never a bad thing. Especially as the team is still uncertain whether or not All-Star forward Justin Bowers will return for the upcoming season (Head Coach Dwight Mullins says the team is giving him plenty of time to weigh all of his opportunities for the upcoming year).
Does this signing perhaps indicate the team thinks Bowers might not return for the 2010-2011 season? That is still unknown, but this arrival of Blackwater is certainly comforting if Bowers doesn’t come back to Allen.
Here is the team’s press release and Blackwater’s stats:
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ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans are welcoming All-Star Judd Blackwater to the 2010-11 team. The forward signed with the club today for the upcoming season.
“Judd has a strong tradition of winning and compliments guys we have already signed. He has been successful so far in his young career and fits the player model that we look for, which is a young, skilled player,” Americans Head Coach and General Manager Dwight Mullins said Thursday.
The 23-year-old turned professional with the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons in the 2008-09 season. Blackwater was called up to the American Hockey League’s Rockford Icehogs and Rochester Americans for a combined 21 games in his rookie year. He collected five points during his time in the AHL while grabbing 22 points (7g-15a=22) in 49 games in the ECHL’s regular season between Fresno and Stockton. That same year, Blackwater helped Stockton come within one win of reaching the finals, earning eight assists in 10 postseason contests.
Blackwater decided to sign with Allen because he heard good things about the Americans from his friend and one of the club’s returning forwards, Colton Yellow Horn. Allen’s close proximity to four AHL clubs was also attractive. “Yellow Horn had great things to say about the team, and it sounds like a great place to play. There are a lot of AHL teams around, which is what I’m striving for.”
The forward also noted the team’s success in its first year. “They went far last year, and hopefully we’ll win the championship this year,” he said.
In his sophomore season, Blackwater increased his point tally to 56 (26g-30a=56) in 63 games between Stockton and the Alaska Aces. The left winger was selected for the 2010 ECHL All-Star game and scored three points in four playoff games for the Aces.
Blackwater was born June 22, 1987, in Lethbridge, Alberta. The left-handed shot weighs 195 pounds and stands six feet tall. He played for the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs for three years and helped lead them to their first Memorial Cup Championship in 17 seasons in 2007-08.
Individual tickets for the 2010-11 season go on sale Sept. 3, but season tickets and partial plans for Allen’s second season are on sale now. Ticket prices start as low as $9 per game, and there is free parking at every game. For more information, call 972-912-1000.
2010-11 Signings To-Date
Judd Blackwater
Bruce Graham
Liam Huculak
Nino Musitelli
David Nimmo
Brandon Straub
Tobias Whelan
Chris Whitley
Colton Yellow Horn
