It’s been reported on Twitter that hockey goalie Allen York, who was with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL, has retired:
G Allen York has retired. We wish him the best of luck in his post hockey career. #York @swamprabbits
— Swamp Rabbits Scoop (@GRWScoop) March 4, 2016
York was the fifth goalie in the Tampa Bay Lightning system and was under an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch. York played one game with the Crunch this season and lost. In all, he had played 13 games with the Crunch, all while Syracuse was affiliated with the Lightning, with an overall 6-6-1 record. He first played for the Crunch during the 2013-2014 season.
York was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round (158th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and signed a two-year entry level contract with Columbus on March 29, 2011. He made his professional and AHL debut with the Springfield Falcons in April of 2011, but only moved further than the AHL once. He made his NHL debut with Columbus on October 25, 2011 vs. Detroit, coming on for what was termed a “brief relief appearance.” He only played two minutes and thirty-three seconds. York bounced between the AHL and the ECHL for most of his career, and was never able to climb much higher than the fifth guy after the left the Columbus organization.
I’m bummed York retired but I understand. Always felt he didn’t quite get a fair shake in Columbus/Springfield but injuries didn’t help.
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) March 4, 2016
The Crunch are without an ECHL farm club this season, but have been using Greenville as an unofficial landing spot for guys like York and defenseman Charlie Dodero. York’s retirement leaves the organization without a number five in the system, but Syracuse can always sign a goalie to a professional tryout contract if needed for the remainder of this season.
