
Americans Host Royals in Weekday Matchup at Toyota Center
December 1, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
Americans vs. Royals
Wednesday, December 1 | Kennewick, WA | Toyota Center
Start Time: 7:05 p.m PST
Tickets: Single game tickets can be purchased at the Toyota Center Box Office or online from Ticketmaster here. For information on how you can build your own ticket package and save with Americans Flex Packs, click here!
The Americans will kick off December with a weekday game against the Victoria Royals tonight at the Toyota Center. It will be the first time the two teams have played since January 6, 2020 in Victoria.
Tri-City is looking to get back in the win column and snap a four game losing streak. There might not be a better team to matchup against than the Royals, who are currently last in the WHL standings with a 3-11-3-0 record. However, Victoria has been heating up recently with a 2-1-3-0 record over their last five games. Their strength has been shutting down power plays with 79% success on the penalty kill and improving to 84.6% when on the road. The Royals played last night in Spokane where they fell 6-5 in overtime to the Chiefs.
The Americans most recently played last Saturday when they fell 5-1 in Seattle. Nick Avakyan started in net for the Americans. The 2004-born netminder kept the Americans in the game early, only allowing one goal on 20 shots faced through the first period. The Thunderbirds took off in the second period with a trio of goals. Marc Lajoie came through with a goal for the Americans 8:18 into the third period. The Americans defenseman scored with a wrist shot from the circle that snuck past the glove of Thunderbirds goaltender Thomas Milic. Rhett Melnyk and Parker Bell received assists on the goal. Avakyan stopped 50 of 55 shots faced.
Lajoie will play his 100th WHL game tonight against Victoria. The 18-year-old native of St. Albert, Alta. was selected 14th overall by the Americans in the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft. Through 99 career games, he has scored 13 goals and added 15 assists.
Record: Tri-City 4-11-2-0 | Victoria 3-11-3-0
Special Teams
Power Play: Tri-City 10/80 (12.5%) | Victoria 9/69 (13.04%)
Penalty Kill: Tri-City 22/75 (70.67%) | Victoria 15/74 (79.73%)
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Western Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2021
- Benson Wins Gold at Capital City Challenge - Winnipeg Ice
- Lind Helps Team White Win Bronze in Capital City Challenge - Red Deer Rebels
- Americans Host Royals in Weekday Matchup at Toyota Center - Tri-City Americans
- Savoie Named WHL Player of the Month for November - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Hub: December 1 - Portland Winterhawks
- Rangers Prospect Garand Named WHL Goaltender of the Month - WHL
- ICE Forward Savoie named McSweeney's WHL Player of the Month - WHL
- Pats to Wear Jerseys Designed by 15-Year-Old Season Ticket Holder Saturday Night - Regina Pats
- Raiders Acquire Latimer, Johnston and Two First-Round Picks from Oil Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Seeley, Zellweger Named to Hockey Canada's Selection Camp - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings Acquire Defenceman Kaiden Guhle from Prince Albert - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Hit the Road to Take on Division-Leading Everett - Spokane Chiefs
- Brent Seabrook to Join Giants Staff as an Interim, Volunteer Assistant Coach - Vancouver Giants
- Canada Calls on Greig & Iorio - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blazers on Fire as Season Hits December - WHL
- Jack Finley Invited to Hockey Canada National Junior Team Selection Camp - Spokane Chiefs
- Road Trip Continues in Swift Current - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Garand, Stankoven Invited to Canada's National Junior Camp - Kamloops Blazers
- Hockey Canada Invites 15 WHL Players to National Junior Team Selection Camp - WHL
- Hunt Named to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Three Oil Kings Invited to Canadian World Junior Selection Camp - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Justin Sourdif Named to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp - Vancouver Giants
- Lambos Named to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp - Winnipeg Ice
- Bedard Invited to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp - Regina Pats
- ICE Recall Harmacy, Reassign Fraser, Oiring - Winnipeg Ice
- Benson Scores OT Winner in Semi Final - Winnipeg Ice
- Yager, Unger, Burnett & Canada Red into Gold Medal Game - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Cougars Fall at Seattle - Prince George Cougars
- Thunderbirds Claw Past Cougars - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Fizer Gets the Hat Trick in OT Loss to Spokane - Victoria Royals
- Spokane Hangs on for 6-5 Overtime Win over Victoria - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Earn a Point in Moose Jaw - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Warriors Top Brandon in a Shootout - Moose Jaw Warriors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Tri-City Americans Stories
- Graduation: Jake Sloan
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- Americans Make 12 Selections in 2025 WHL Drafts
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- Graduation: Brandon Whynott

