Tri-City Americans

Last updated

Tri-City Americans
Tri-City Americans logo.svg
City Kennewick, Washington
League Western Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionU.S.
Founded1966
Home arena Toyota Center
ColorsNavy blue, red, silver, white
    
General managerBob Tory
Head coach Stu Barnes [1]
Website chl.ca/whl-americans
Franchise history
1966–1967 Calgary Buffaloes
1967–1977 Calgary Centennials
1977–1982 Billings Bighorns
1982–1983 Nanaimo Islanders
1983–1988 New Westminster Bruins
1988–presentTri-City Americans
Championships
Regular season titles1 (2007–08)
Playoff championshipsConference championships
1 (2009–10)

The Tri-City Americans are an American major junior ice hockey team playing in the Western Hockey League and based in Kennewick, Washington. Founded in 1966 as the Calgary Buffaloes, the team settled in Kennewick in 1988 after a number of relocations. The team plays its home games at Toyota Center, which was purpose-built for the team. The team has won one Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and have played in one league playoff final; however, the Americans have not won a playoff championship.

Contents

History

Foundations

The Americans franchise began as a founding franchise of the league, beginning as the Calgary Buffaloes in 1966. [2] The original team was renamed the "Centennials" after one season. In 1977, the franchise relocated to Montana and was known as the Billings Bighorns—part of an initial wave of American teams in the league. In 1982, the team moved again, this time to Nanaimo, British Columbia, where the team played for one season as the Nanaimo Islanders. The team then moved to New Westminster, BC, to become the second incarnation of the New Westminster Bruins. [2]

In 1987, owner Ron Dixon proposed moving the team to the Tri-Cities area if local investors would put together enough money for a new arena; the proposal was endorsed, and the team moved to Kennewick and became known as the Americans in the fall of 1988. [3]

Tumultuous beginnings

The team's new arena in Kennewick, the Tri-Cities Coliseum, was not ready in time for the start of the team's first season in Washington, forcing the team to seek practice ice in Walla Walla and to play its first seventeen games on the road. [4] The team's inaugural game was a 4–2 loss in Spokane against the Chiefs. The team finally debuted in their new home arena on November 20, 1988, defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds 4–3 in overtime in front of 6,000 spectators. [3]

Led by stars Stu Barnes and goaltender Olaf Kolzig, the Americans were playoff contenders from the outset. The team gained widespread attention during their second season when they staged a one-game walk-out; Dixon hired Bill LaForge to manage the team, and when he stepped in for coach Rick Kozuback and allegedly levied verbal abuse at players and instructed them to injure their opponents, the players refused to play in their December 31, 1989 game against the Portland Winter Hawks. [5] Dixon ultimately agreed that Kozuback would continue coaching the team, rather than LaForge. [3] [6] In that season's playoffs, during their first round series against the Thunderbirds, Kozuback and several players got into a physical altercation with fans, who had apparently been pouring beer onto the bench; Kozuback and two players were suspended, while Seattle was fined for its fans' actions. [3]

Despite re-branding as the Americans, the team wore the New West Bruins' black-and-gold colors for the first two seasons in Kennewick, before Dixon finally paid for new uniforms in their red, white, and blue color scheme in 1990. [4] The team found limited success in its first two decades, winning its first playoff series in 1995 over Spokane, but never advancing past the Division final.

Twenty-first century

Struggling on and off the ice, the team was nearly relocated to Chilliwack, British Columbia, in 2004. However, an ownership group including former players Kolzig and Barnes, along with Bob Tory and Dennis Loman, purchased the team and kept it in Kennewick. [7] In 2021, Barnes would be named the team's head coach. [1]

The Americans' had their most successful run in a five-season period from 2007–08 to 2011–12, when the team topped the U.S. Division four times. In 2007–08, led by goaltender Chet Pickard and coach-of-the-year Don Nachbaur, the team won the regular season title with a 52-win, 108-point season, before losing a seven-game conference final series against Spokane that featured a then-record five overtime games. [8] [9] The following season, at their annual New Year's Eve game against the Chiefs on December 31, 2008, the Americans set a team record for attendance with 6,042 attendees. [10] In 2009–10, the Americans won their third straight division title and advanced to the championship series for the first time in history. [11] They faced the Calgary Hitmen, losing the series in five games. [12]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
1988–89 7233345—300299714th WestLost West Division semifinal
1989–90 7239285—433354833rd WestLost West Division semifinal
1990–91 7236324—404386764th WestLost West Division semifinal
1991–92 7235352—363376722nd WestLost West Division quarterfinal
1992–93 7228413—245312596th WestLost West Division quarterfinal
1993–94 7219485—272373436th WestLost West Division quarterfinal
1994–95 7236315—295279774th WestLost West Division final
1995–96 7245252—336255923rd WestLost West Division semifinal
1996–97 7222437—225288517th WestDid not qualify
1997–98 7217496—264371407th WestDid not qualify
1998–99 7243236—311219922nd WestLost West Division final
1999–00 72243972231288576th WestLost West Division quarterfinal
2000–01 72213687217284577th WestDid not qualify
2001–02 723131100260271723rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2002–03 72204435240335484th U.S.Did not qualify
2003–04 723127104205197763rd U.S.Lost Western Conference semifinal
2004–05 72263484172196644th U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
2005–06 72303543188221674th U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2006–07 72472311240190962nd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2007–08 725216222621761081st U.S.Lost Western Conference final
2008–09 724920032631841011st U.S.Lost Western Conference semifinal
2009–10 72472212272193971st U.S.Lost final
2010–11 72442422286223923rd U.S.Lost Western Conference semifinal
2011–12 725018222811901041st U.S.Lost Western Conference final
2012–13 72402723246227853rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2013–14 72293346178224685th U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2014–15 72313803190242655th U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2015–16 72353421236253735th U.S.Did not qualify
2016–17 72412830272252853rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2017–18 72382581255249854th U.S.Lost Western Conference final
2018–19 68342851214230744th U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2019–20 63174042157302405th U.S.Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 19712004778145th U.S.No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22 68194360179306445th U.S.Did not qualify
2022–23 68342653256245763rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2023–24 68234221206306496th U.S.Did not qualify

Championship history

WHL Championship final

Players

Current roster

Updated March 21, 2024. [13]

# Nat Player Pos S/G AgeAcquiredBirthplaceDrafted
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jaxen Adam D L16 2022 Cochrane, Alberta Eligible 2025
12 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nick Anisimovicz C R17 2021 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2024
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Merrek Arpin D R17 2021 East St. Paul, Manitoba Eligible 2024
22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Parker Bell LW L20 2018 Campbell River, British Columbia 2022, 155th Overall, CGY
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Byrne D L15 2023 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2027
88 Flag of the United States.svg Camerin Cardona C R18 2021 Anaheim, California Eligible 2024
25 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Max Curran C L17 2023 Prague, Czech Republic Eligible 2024
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lukas Dragicevic  ( A ) D R19 2020 Richmond, British Columbia 2023, 57th Overall, SEA
11 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Fan RW L19 2021 Eagle River, Alaska Undrafted
60 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mason Finley RW R19 2024 Kelowna, British Columbia Undrafted
9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Drew Freer RW R19 2020 Calgary, Alberta Undrafted
13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jordan Gavin C L17 2021 Surrey, British Columbia Eligible 2025
20 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Clayton Gillmore RW R17 2022 West Kelowna, British Columbia Eligible 2025
19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jake Gudelj C L18 2023 North Vancouver, British Columbia Eligible 2024
35 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Armaan Kaila G R17 2023 Ladner, British Columbia Eligible 2025
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Kelsey G L20 2023 Maple Ridge, British Columbia Undrafted
51 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cash Koch LW L17 2022 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2025
29 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carter MacAdams LW L20 2023 Langley, British Columbia Undrafted
31 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kale Margolis RW R17 2024 Kinistino, Saskatchewan Eligible 2025
30 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Lukas Matecha G L19 2023 Czech Republic Undrafted
24 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Deagen McMillan C R19 2020 Vernon, British Columbia Undrafted
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ethan Peters  ( A ) D R21 2023 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Undrafted
21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carter Savage D L19 2020 Surrey, British Columbia Undrafted
37 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Serraglio  ( C ) D L21 2021 Langley, British Columbia Undrafted
15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jake Sloan  ( A ) C R20 2019 Girvan, Great Britain Undrafted
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jackson Smith D R17 2022 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2025
17 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thomas Tien C L19 2019 Richmond, British Columbia Undrafted
27 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brandon Whynott LW L20 2023 Langley, British Columbia Undrafted

NHL alumni

Alumni of the Americans who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).[ citation needed ] Scott Gomez was the first former American to win the Stanley Cup. [3]

Retired numbers

The Americans honored Todd Klassen in 1993, months after he was killed in a car crash. The team also began awarding the Todd Klassen Humanitarian of the Year Award annually. [3]

#Player
8 Brian Sakic
14 Stu Barnes / Todd Klassen
33 Olaf Kolzig

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References

  1. 1 2 Morrow, Jeff (August 9, 2021). "After 20+ years in NHL, this hockey talent is coming home to coach the Tri-City Americans". Tri-City Herald. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fowler, Annie (September 21, 2012). "Tri-City Americans celebrate 25 years". Tri-City Herald . Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Jordan, Kevin (October 23, 2022). "Tri-City Americans". WHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ Stewart, Bill (December 31, 1989). "Tri-City Americans to end one-day walkout". United Press International . Retrieved May 16, 2024– via UPI Archives.
  6. ↑ Stewart, Bill (January 1, 1990). "Tri-City players end walkout but still want GM fired". United Press International. Retrieved May 16, 2024– via UPI Archives.
  7. ↑ Stock, Curtis (January 30, 2014). "Bob Tory works magic with Tri-City Americans". Edmonton Journal . Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024– via pressreader.com.
  8. ↑ Kepke, Cami (May 7, 2024). "Moose Jaw Warriors moving on to WHL Championship Series". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024. Saskatoon and Moose Jaw tied the previous marker of five overtime contests in game 6, matching Kelowna and Seattle's 2013 quarterfinal series and Tri-City and Spokane's 2008 Western Conference Championship showdown.
  9. ↑ "Don Nachbaur named head coach in Binghamton". American Hockey League. July 17, 2009. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  10. ↑ Tri-City Herald. January 1, 2009. "Ams ring in new year with victory Archived 2013-02-04 at archive.today " by Annie Fowler. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Americans advance to WHL final". Red Deer Advocate . April 26, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hitmen capture crown". The Spokesman-Review . Canadian Press. May 8, 2010. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ WHL Network, Western Hockey League, retrieved March 21, 2024
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