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WHL Tri-City Americans

Mechura Brings the Bears in Teddy Bear Toss Victory

December 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


The Tri-City Americans earned their sixth straight victory at the Toyota Center last night as they defeated the Prince George Cougars 4-3 on Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss night.

It is Tri-City's first six-game winning streak since October 2017.

Adam Mechura brought the bears with the first goal of the night 6:50 into the game with a power play goal. A shot from Parker Bell rebounded to Mechura at the right circle and the Czechia native scored nearside on Cougars goaltender Ty Young with a wrist shot from one knee. Mechura is the fourth ever import player to score the Teddy Bear Toss goal for Tri-City (Hrabik - 2019, Välimäki - 2015, Richard Nejezchleb - 2014).

Scoring continued in the first period when a hard forechecking effort from Drew Freer led to Prince George turning over the puck in their own zone. Freer scored over the blocker of Young with a shot from the low slot. The goal, unassisted, was Freer's third of the season.

Tyson Greenway added Tri-City's third goal with 32 seconds remaining in the period when he put home a rebound off a shot from Lukas Dragicevic. Greenway now has goals in four straight games. Dragicevic's assist extends his point streak to 21 straight games, the longest point streak by a WHL defenseman since Tyson Barrie (KEL) had a 21 game point streak in 2009.

With an assist on Greenway's goal, Lukas Dragicevic now has points in 21 straight games, the longest point streak by a WHL defenseman since 2009.

Tri-City led 3-0 after the first period, out shooting Prince George 14-3.

The Cougars found their offensive stride in the second frame, adding a goal from each Chase Wheatcroft and Koehn Ziemmer to cut Tri-City's lead to 3-2. Prince George led second period shots 17-5.

The eventual game-winning goal came from Jordan Gavin 13:37 into the final frame. Jake Sloan set up the rookie forward in the low slot and Gavin scored five-hole on Young, putting Tri-City up 4-2. Gavin has goals in back-to-back games and points in six straight.

Prince George continued to put pressure on Tri-City late in the game and added one last goal with 3:17 remaining, but the Americans held them off from finding the tying goal.

Tri-City narrowly out shot Prince George 27-26.

Netminder Tomas Suchanek earned his 13th win of the season.

The Americans will hit the road playing in Everett and a pair of games in Victoria before the Christmas break.

Shots: 27-26 TC

Score: 4-3 TC

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