Kennewick, Wa. For the past 29 years, the Tri-City Americans (20-10-5-0, 45 pts.) and Spokane Chiefs (20-15-1-2, 43 pts.) have played each other on New Year’s Eve. It has been a tradition that has spawned some memorable matchups. The last night of 2017 would be no different. The Americans fell behind early but stormed back to take a 4-3 victory over the Chiefs in front of 6,011 rowdy fans.
New Year’s Eve in Kennewick is always a spirited affair. Tonight’s opening frame was no different, for one team anyway. The Americans were able to get on the board first to bring the capacity crowd to life. Forward Riley Sawchuk picked up a rebound in the right circle and fired home his 4th of the season. That was really the only good news the Americans would get in the first. At 13:09 Chiefs forward Jake McGrew took a great cross ice pass from Dawson Hamaliuk and found a wide open net behind Americans goaltender Patrick Dea. Just over forty seconds later, Spokane took the lead on the strength of Eli Zummack’s 10th of the season. The Spokane transition game was finding the Americans defense flat footed and creating some great chances. With just under a minute left, Spokane extended their lead to two goals as forward Zach Fisher netted his 17th of the season. Once again, the Americans defense was caught looking. Spokane outshot the Americans 17-8 and were threatening to run away with this one.
Whatever was said in the Tri-City locker room during intermission seemed to work as the Americans stormed out in the second. Just over five minutes in, defenseman Dylan Coghlan picked up his 12th goal of the season.With Tri-City on the power play forward Jordan Topping carried the puck across the Spokane line, passed to forward Kyle Olson at the left circle, who then found Coghlan all alone in the slot. The Americans trailed by just one. At 9:30, Tri-City would get the equalizer as Rookie forward Isaac Johnson made a great cross ice pass to Nolan Yaremko who was set in front of the Spokane net. Yaremko shook of the Chiefs defender to bury his 11th of the season. Then, just over three minutes later, the Americans would take the lead on the power play. Tri-City made a series of great passes to keep the Chiefs off balance. Forward Morgan Geekie took the puck in front of the Spokane net, then found Johnson all alone at the side of the Spokane net. Johnson beat a sprawling Dawson Weatherill for his 9th of the season. The Americans now had the 4-3 lead. Spokane outshot Tri-City 17-12 in the middle frame but was unable to get another past Dea.
The third period was the Patrick Dea show, as the Americans goalie stopped all 12 shots he faced, which included some quality chances. Spokane would outshoot Tri-City 46-26 but the Americans walked away with the 4-3 victory. The potent Tri-City power play went 2-for-4 while Spokane was 1-for-4 on the man advantage. The Americans will head on a five game road trip that starts Wednesday in Kelowna. Spokane will have a few days off before hosting Portland on Friday night.
One bit of bad news for Tri-City was the announcement that forward Michael Rasmussen would be sidelined the next 4-8 weeks. Rasmussen underwent wrist surgery over the holiday break to repair a nagging injury. The team will also be without defenseman Juuso Välimäki a little while longer as he continues to captain Team Finland at the World Junior Championship.
