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Tri-City Americans

'Tips Soak Americans 3-1

January 8, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


EVERETT, WA - The soggy, sloppy weather throughout the Pacific Northwest took its toll on the Americans' travel schedule on Wednesday. It also bogged down their red hot offense.

Before arriving at Comcast Arena an hour-and-a-half behind schedule due to poor travel conditions, the Americans entered tonight's contest averaging five+ goals per game over their last four games.

But, newly acquired goaltender Thomas Heemskerk turned in one of his best performances of the season, stopping 30 shots to lead the Everett Silvertips (18-16-5-0, 41 pts) past the visiting Tri-City Americans (27-11-0-2, 56 pts) 3-1 in front of 4,196 fans at Comcast Arena. With the win, the 'Tips snapped their brief two-game slide and pick-up their second win of the season against Tri-City. Meanwhile, the loss ended the Americans' three-game winning streak, while dropping their record to 7-13-1-3 with 3 ties all-time at Comcast Arena.

Just 5:06 into the contest and on the power play, Everett's Dale Hunt got things started offensively. Hunt took a backdoor pass from Zack Dailey and beat Tri-City goaltender, Brett Martyniuk, for his fourth goal of the season.

Everett's 1-0 lead stood until 8:14 into the third period, when Shane Harper beat Martyniuk, top shelf with a backhander. Just 1:01 earlier, Martyniuk had stopped Harper on a penalty shot, keeping Tri-City to within one.

Then, with 4:47 remaining in regulation, Cameron Abney let a shot go that deflected off teammate Jesse Burt and past Martyniuk, putting Everett on top 3-0.

Just 45 seconds later and on the power play, Tri-City pulled back to within two, after Mitch Fadden redirected a Taylor Procyshen shot, through the pads of Heemskerk. With the goal, Fadden registered his fourth goal in as many games.

With 2:45 remaining in regulation, Martyniuk would get pulled for the extra attacker and Tri-City unleashed a flurry of shots on Heemskerk over that span. But after nine consecutive saves and a shot off the post, the score remained the same as Heemskerk and the 'Tips held on for the win. Martyniuk, who made several key saves throughout the contest, stopped 25 shots while picking-up his first loss of the season.

Tri-City finished the night with a 31-to-28 shot advantage and went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Everett went 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.

The Americans will get a much needed break tomorrow, before returning to the ice on Friday, January 9, when they take on the Seattle Thunderbirds at their new home, ShoWare Center, in Kent. Game time is 7:35 p.m. Tri-City is 4-0 against the T'birds this season, but has yet to play a game on the road against their division rivals. The Americans are 2-2-1-0 in their last five trips to Seattle, with two of those contests needing overtime. 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 7:35 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 7:15 p.m.

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