WHL Tri-City Americans

Record Crowd Helps Tri-City Ring in New Year With 6-1 Win Over Chiefs

Published on January 1, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - New Year's Eve is a time many folks look to the past. But, on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center, the largest crowd in Toyota Center history caught a glimpse into the future.

The Americans got goals from three of their 17-year-old forwards and rookie goaltender Brett Martyniuk collected 27 saves as the Tri-City Americans (25-10-0-2, 52 pts) blew out the rival Spokane Chiefs (22-12-0-3, 47 pts) 6-1 in front of a franchise-high 6,042 fans. The previous high was 6,010, which was set consistently through the first years of the club's history. It was the second straight victory on New Year's Eve for the Americans, who improved their record to 12-5-0-1 with 1 tie against the Chiefs on the final day of the year. The 12-game season series is knotted at 3, with each team having won all three games on home ice.

Midway through the first period, Taylor Procyshen brought the record crowd to their feet. With less than eight minutes remaining in regulation and on the penalty kill, Procyshen took off on a short-handed breakaway, then buried his first of two goals on the night. It was Procyshen's second shorthanded goal of the season and, his two goals, give him six in his last three games.

However, less than a minute later, Spokane returned the favor, as Jared Spurgeon netted his fifth goal of the season. But, despite the Chiefs out chancing the Americans 16 to 7 through the first 20 minutes, the game remained tied at 1 headed into the first intermission.

Just three minutes into the second period and on the power play, Tri-City took the lead for good, as Mitch Fadden recorded his ninth goal of the season. But, the real back-breaker came just 57 second later, when Mason Wilgosh beat Spokane starter, James Reid, for his third tally of the season. Brendan Shinnimin followed it up with his fifth goal of the season, 12:16 later, to bring the Americans' lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Only 35 seconds into the final period of play, Procyshen collected his second goal of the night and 21st of the season. Finally, with 13:51 remaining in the contest, rookie Spencer Asuchak capped the scoring with his first-career WHL goal. Reid was pulled in exchange for fellow rookie Alex Wright, who played the final 13:51. The duo combined for 23 saves in the loss. Meanwhile, Martyniuk, who was making his first home start of his career, stopped 27 of the 28 shots he saw in route to his second-career WHL win.

The Americans, who will ring in the New Year on a bus, began their long road trip to central British Columbia, where a doubleheader contest with the Prince George Cougars awaits. Game 1 takes place on Friday, January 2 at the CN Centre. Game time is 7:00 p.m. It is the first match-up of the season between the two clubs. Tri-City went 3-1 against the Cougars last season and has won nine of their last 10 games against Prince George. Since the Cougars moved to Prince George from Victoria, in time for the 1994-95 season, Tri-City is 39-32-3-0 with 6 ties overall against the Prince George Cougars. The game will be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland, starting at 7:00 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2009


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