WHL Tri-City Americans

Seven Americans Head to NHL Camps

Published on September 2, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans' Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that seven Americans skaters will be heading off to NHL Training Camps this September. The players receiving invites this pre-season are goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy (Pittsburgh), defenseman Spencer Humphries (San Jose), along with forwards Justin Feser (Columbus), Patrick Holland (Calgary), Brooks Macek (Detroit), Jordan Messier (Columbus) and Brendan Shinnimin (New York Rangers).

"As an organization, we are very proud of our players accomplishments...team success brings individual success," said Tory. "This is the most players we've ever had attend NHL camps in one season and it speaks volumes about our players, scouts and coaches."

Pechurskiy, selected by Pittsburgh in the 2008 NHL Draft, is coming off his first season of hockey in North America. After playing for Magnitogorsk in 2008-09, Pechurskiy joined the Americans midway through the 2009-10 season. Splitting time in net, Pechurskiy compiled a 13-10-0-1 record along with a 2.61 goals against average and a 0.912 save percentage in 27 regular season games. In mid-January, the Russian goaltender made headlines after he was signed to a one-day emergency, then entered a game vs. the Vancouver Canucks in relief. Pechurskiy stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced and earned the game's 3rd-star honors.

Humphries, a 6'2 210 lb. defenseman from Delta, BC, made great strides while playing with the Westside Warriors of the BCHL last season. His hard work and play eventually earned a spot ranked in the final NHL Central Scouting Services' rankings headed into the 2010 Draft. With the Warriors, Humphries appeared in 49 games while totaling two goals, 14 points and 80 penalty minutes.

Feser had a breakout sophomore season with Tri-City, amassing 36 goals and 73 points while appearing in all 72 games. The 5'10 185 lb. forward from Red Deer, AB then played in all 22 playoff games for Tri-City, totaling another 18 points. Feser will head to the Blue Jackets' camp as an undrafted free agent invite.

Holland, the Americans' 2009-10 Rookie of the Year, was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 7th round of the 2010 Draft. The 6'0 175 lb. Lethbridge, AB-native notched a solid 16 goals and 36 points in his first WHL season, 28 of which came after the Winter Break. He then went on to notch three goals and 10 points in 22 playoff games, finishing 6th among WHL rookies in playoff scoring.

Macek, after tripling his point production from his rookie season, also was selected in the 2010 Draft. The 6th round pick by Detroit appeared in all 72 games for the Americans, finishing tied for 2nd in team-scoring with 21 goals and 73 points and highlighted by a career-best 10-game point streak in January. The sophomore then appeared in 21 playoff games, registering six goals, 17 points and plus-10 rating.

Messier, a 6'2 195 lb. forward from Canmore, AB, more than doubled his point output from his first WHL season in 2009-10, collecting 23 goals and 47 points in 71 games for Tri-City. Despite jumping 31 spots to #115 in the final NHL CSS rankings, Messier will report to Columbus' camp as an undrafted free agent invite.

Shinnimin, the Americans' leading scorer and team MVP last season, will also report as an undrafted free agent invite to the New York Rangers camp after amassing 27 goals and 82 points in 70 regular season games. The 5'10 180 lb. Winnipeg, MB-native followed up his breakout regular season with a team-high 25 points in 22 playoff games.

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