Former NFL player Myles Jack makes history as new ECHL team owner

With the purchase of the Americans, the Jack family became the first African-American majority owners in ECHL history. They are just the second African-American majority owners in professional hockey history. The Youngstown SteelHounds were a team that played in the Central Hockey League from 2005-2008 ,and they were founded and operated by Herb Washington, a former Major League Baseball player.

The transfer of the controlling interest in the Allen Americans was approved by the ECHL on Wednesday, going from the Allen Hockey Team LLC, led by Jack Gulati, to ALA Hockey LLC, that is controlled by the Jacks.

The retired linebacker, who spent much of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, recently informed the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed him on Aug. 6, 2023, that he was retiring from the NFL. It appears Jack has been busy since his retirement as he’s now entered that hockey world as an ECHL owner.

“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 Myles Jack in a statement. “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, in a statement. “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.”

“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,” said commissioner of the ECHL Ryan Crelin in a statement. “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.”

The Allen Americans are a Dallas based team and located within the suburb of Allen, Texas. They are affiliated with the Ottawa Senators organization and their American Hockey League team the Belleville Senators. With Myles Jack now the official owner of the Americans, he is the latest former NFL player to foray into ownership of an ECHL team. Jack joins former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow as an ECHL owner; Tebow was also just recently announced as part of the ownership group of the ECHL’s further expansion in Lake Tahoe next season.