WHL Tri-City Americans

Hometown Hero; Fast Sends Americans Past Hitmen in Shootout

January 20, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


CALGARY, AB - It was his first chance to play in front of his hometown family and friends and Tri-City captain T.J. Fast gave them all plenty to cheer about.

Fast notched the game-winning goal in a shootout to send the Tri-City Americans (33-11-1-2, 69 pts) to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen (32-13-1-3, 68 pts) in front of 8,362 fans at Pengrowth Saddledome. The win improved Tri-City to 4-2 in the shootout and 2-1 against the Central Division. The win was also the first for Tri-City goaltender Kyle Birch, who had not won since November 16 against Prince George. Meanwhile, the loss was the second straight for the Hitmen, who have now lost two straight to Tri-City over the past two seasons.

After tough losses for each team the night before, both squads came out firing in the first period. Tri-City finished the first period with a 15-to-12 shots on goal edge, but to no avail as the teams went to the locker room knotted at 1 after one period of play.

The second period was a different story. Just 1:17 into the period, Calgary struck first, as Ian Duval ripped a shot from the left circle, high over the glove of Birch, for the 1-0 lead. But, 1:12 later, the Americans responded via the power play. Jason Reese redirected a Shaun Vey shot to tie the game at 1-all. But, nearly six minutes later and on the power play, the Hitmen countered with one of their own. Karl Alzner beat Birch from the high slot for his fifth goal of the season, putting the Hitmen up 2-1. However, while on the power play and appearing in just his second game since returning from the IR, Taylor Procyshen put in his own rebound to tie the game at 2 headed into the second intermission.

After several key saves by Birch and Calgary's netminder Dan Spence, the game remained tied throughout the third period and the five-minute overtime frame, sending the contest into a shootout. With the Americans' first shot, Reese buried a shot high over Spence's glove to put Tri-City up 1-0. But, with the game on the line in the third round, Calgary's Chase Schaber beat Birch to force extra frames. In the fourth round, Birch stoned Calgary's Ryan White, setting the stage for Fast. Fast then ricocheted his shot off the post, past Spence, for the game-winner. Birch finished with 26 saves in the win, while Spence stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced in the loss. The Hitmen went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Tri-City finished 2-for-6 on the man-advantage.

After winning two of the last three on the road, the Americans will get four days to rest up, before they take on the defending Memorial Cup Champions, the Vancouver Giants on Friday, January 25 at Pacific Coliseum. Game time is 7:30 PM. The four-game series is tied at 1-game apiece between the two squads, with Tri-City winning the most recent match-up on November 2 at Toyota Center. You can catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Budweiser Warm-up show at 7:15 PM. The game will also be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2008


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