Tri-City Americans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tri-City Americans | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City: | Kennewick, Washington |
| League: | Western Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western |
| Division: | U.S. |
| Founded: | 1988 |
| Home Arena: | Toyota Center |
| Colours: | navy blue, red, cream & silver |
| Head Coach: | Don Nachbaur |
| General Manager: | Bob Tory |
| Franchise history | |
| 1966-67: | Calgary Buffaloes |
| 1967-77: | Calgary Centennials |
| 1977-82: | Billings Bighorns |
| 1982-83: | Nanaimo Islanders |
| 1983-88: | New Westminster Bruins |
| 1988-Present: | Tri-City Americans |
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center (formerly known as the Three Rivers Coliseum).
Contents |
[edit] History
The Tri-City Americans franchise is an original franchise of the WHL. They began in 1966 as the Calgary Buffaloes before being renamed the Centennials after one season. The franchise was also known as the Billings Bighorns from 1977-82 before relocating to Nanaimo, British Columbia as the Nanaimo Islanders. After only one season, they moved to New Westminster, British Columbia to become the second incarnation of the New Westminster Bruins. They moved to the Tri-Cities in 1988.
The Americans have never enjoyed strong local support, mainly due to their startling lack of competitiveness during the first thirteen or so years of franchise history. As a result, in 2004, the former owner of the Tri-City Americans attempted to move the team to Canada; however, the other Western Hockey League teams voted to prevent the move. Shortly after this failure, the team was sold to Tri-Cities natives, including Olaf Kolzig, the goalie for the Washington Capitals, and Stu Barnes of the Dallas Stars, both former Americans players. Since the sale, local support for the team seems to have increased modestly.
The Americans' fiercest rival is the Spokane Chiefs. In addition to several other meetings during the year, the teams have a tradition of playing every year on New Year's Eve in Kennewick.
In the 2002-03 season, sixteen year old goaltender Shannon Szabados became the first female player to compete in the WHL when she played one game for the Americans.
[edit] 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
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1988-89 | 72 | 33 | 34 | 5 | - | 300 | 299 | 71 | 4th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
| 1989-90 | 72 | 39 | 28 | 5 | - | 433 | 354 | 83 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
| 1990-91 | 72 | 36 | 32 | 4 | - | 404 | 386 | 76 | 4th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
| 1991-92 | 72 | 35 | 35 | 2 | - | 363 | 376 | 72 | 2nd West | Lost West Division quarter-final |
| 1992-93 | 72 | 28 | 41 | 3 | - | 245 | 312 | 59 | 6th West | Lost West Division quarter-final |
| 1993-94 | 72 | 19 | 48 | 5 | - | 272 | 373 | 43 | 6th West | Lost West Division quarter-final |
| 1994-95 | 72 | 36 | 31 | 5 | - | 295 | 279 | 77 | 4th West | Lost West Division final |
| 1995-96 | 72 | 45 | 25 | 2 | - | 336 | 255 | 92 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
| 1996-97 | 72 | 22 | 43 | 7 | - | 225 | 288 | 51 | 7th West | Out of playoffs |
| 1997-98 | 72 | 17 | 49 | 6 | - | 264 | 371 | 40 | 7th West | Out of playoffs |
| 1998-99 | 72 | 43 | 23 | 6 | - | 311 | 219 | 92 | 2nd West | Lost West Division final |
| 1999-00 | 72 | 24 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 231 | 288 | 57 | 6th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
| 2000-01 | 72 | 21 | 36 | 8 | 7 | 217 | 284 | 57 | 7th West | Out of playoffs |
| 2001-02 | 72 | 31 | 31 | 10 | 0 | 260 | 271 | 72 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
| 2002-03 | 72 | 20 | 44 | 3 | 5 | 240 | 335 | 48 | 4th U.S. | Out of playoffs |
| 2003-04 | 72 | 31 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 205 | 197 | 76 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semi-final |
| 2004-05 | 72 | 26 | 34 | 8 | 4 | 172 | 196 | 64 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2005-06 | 72 | 30 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 188 | 221 | 67 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
[edit] NHL alumni
|
|
[edit] Retired numbers
33 - Olaf Kolzig
14 - Stu Barnes, Todd Klassen
8 - Brian Sakic
[edit] External link
| Western Hockey League |
|---|
| Current teams : Brandon Wheat Kings | Calgary Hitmen | Chilliwak Bruins | Everett Silvertips | Kamploops Blazers | Kelowna Rockets | Kootenay Ice | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Medicine Hat Tigers | Moose Jaw Warriors | Portland Winter Hawks | Prince Albert Raiders | Prince George Cougars | Red Deer Rebels | Regina Pats | Saskatoon Blades | Seattle Thunderbirds | Spokane Chiefs | Swift Current Broncos | Tri-City Americans | Vancouver Giants |
| Expansion for 2007-08 : Edmonton Oil Kings |
| CHL: Memorial Cup | President's Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL |
