The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the Transfer of Controlling Interest in the Allen Americans Membership from Allen Hockey Team, LLC to ALA Hockey, LLC, an entity controlled by Myles and LaSonjia Jack.
“The ECHL is thrilled to welcome Myles and LaSonjia Jack to the League and further the Allen Americans tradition, as the team enters its 15th Anniversary Season of professional hockey,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “On behalf of the ECHL Board of Governors, we are thankful for Jack Gulati’s ownership over the past six-plus years in Allen, helping to pave the way for this new opportunity in the market. We look forward to the excitement the Jack family, alongside Rev Entertainment and Zawyer Sports will bring to the Americans and the fan experience at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.”
“From the football field to the business world I have always brought passion and leadership to my teams. The opportunity to lead this franchise and serve our great fans is an incredible responsibility,” Said Owner Myles Jack. “I’m excited to bring a first-class, family friendly entertainment option to this community alongside our great partners.”
“It’s such an honor to lead such a great hockey team in Texas – which is a great place for families and businesses,” said Co-Owner LaSonjia Jack, President/COO/Co-Owner of Amsonia Sports. “We are looking forward to engaging all our fans, business partners, and community leaders. The Allen Americans are a pillar in this community and we will continue that tradition. We believe in bringing people together and sharing memories, and what better way to do that than to attend an ECHL Hockey Game.”
Jack, and his mother LaSonjia Jack, are the first African-American majority owners in professional hockey history. Jack spent seven seasons in the National Football League prior to retiring last month, spending the majority of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who drafted him in the 2016 NFL Draft as the 36th overall pick. Jack spent his final season in 2022 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, before attending training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles this summer.
About the ECHL
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces for its 36th season in 2023-24. There have been 740 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 13 who made their NHL debut in the 2022-23 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 28 of the 32 NHL teams in 2023-24, marking the 27th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.