The Tri-City Americans made one last trade on deadline day. That made eight total deals since the trade restriction over Christmas break was lifted.
They then hit the ice for two games at home. 22 total goals were scored over the two games and the Americans earned a split on the weekend.
The Americans have traded Jarod Newell to the Kelowna Rockets.
Best of luck, Jarod!
? → https://t.co/2MQmZJqQ5O pic.twitter.com/5ceVRK3rxQ
— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) January 10, 2020
The Americans moved 2002-born defenseman Jarod Newell to the Kelowna Rockets on trade deadline day. Per Tri-City governor and general manager Bob Tory, the conditional pick mentioned in the trade negates the conditional pick that was supposed to be sent to the Rockets for Jadon Joseph. That means that the trade was essentially Newell for Joseph.
Deadline recap:
In:
Jadon Joseph (Forward-99), Aidan Lawson (D-01), John Little (F-02), 2nd, 6th round 2020, 2nd, 4th round 2021, two different conditional 4th round picks in 2022, 4th in 2023. They also got the rights to unsigned prospects Carter Gylander (G-01) and Cade Littler (F-04)
Out:
Jarod Newell (D-02), Samuel Stewart (D-00), Beck Warm (G-99), Kyle Olson (F-99), Jan Cikhart (Import F-02), 7th and 8th round (Conditional) in 2020.
Tri-City gets a second-round pick back from Calgary after sending them one two years ago as part of the deal for defenseman Jake Bean.
The Americans still have an open overage spot and an open import spot on their roster.
They are down to just forwards Nick Bowman and Paycen Bjorklund and defensemen Jayden Platz and Luke Zazula in the 2000-age group. That group will be the overagers during the 2020-21 WHL season.
Welcome Carson Haynes to the Tri City Americans for our upcoming road trip. #AmsNation#AmsProspects
— Robert (Bob) Tory (@BTORY) January 13, 2020
Tory also relayed on Twitter that 16-year-old defenseman Carson Haynes would be joining the Americans for their five-game road trip which takes them to Victoria for two and Kamloops for two. They then get some time off before heading down to Portland.
The games:
Friday, 1/10/20: Seattle 8 @Tri-City 5
It was a wild one at the Toyota Center for Military Appreciation Night.
The Thunderbirds stormed out to a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Starting goalie Talyn Boyko was removed from the Tri-City net in favor of 16-year-old Mason Dunsford. Boyko stopped 9-of-13.
Marc Lajoie netted his sixth to get the Americans on the board, but Seattle got that four-goal lead back thanks to rookie phenom Conner Roulette.
Connor Bouchard made it 5-2 with a power-play goal, but three more goals from Seattle made it 8-2 midway through the third. Dunsford turned away 26-of-30 overall.
Tri-City did not go quietly though and scored three more to make this one a little closer.
Blake Stevenson had one and Sasha Mutala had two to close the scoring at 8-5.
Bouchard, Lajoie, Mutala and Krystof Hrabik each had two points.
The Tri-City power play went 2-for-6 and their penalty kill was 4-for-4.
“Obviously the team is struggling,” Tory said. “Whenever top players and leaders get moved, it has an impact on the dressing room. However, we were struggling before the trades and it was necessary to reset the group and look towards the future.”
The trading away of top players now gives younger players more opportunities.
“There is also great opportunity for all our players moving forward to continue to develop so that they can become important players moving forward for the rest of this season and next,” Tory further relayed.
Saturday, 1/11/20: Tri-City 5 Regina 4
The following night, the Americans welcomed in former teammate Jan Cikhart and the Regina Pats. It was the Americans flying out to a big lead this time as Edge Lambert, Luke Zazula (power play), Mutala and Hrabik (power play) had the Americans up 4-0 after two periods.
Regina crept closer with an early third period goal, but Bouchard netted the eventual game winner on a short handed rush to make it 5-4.
Some late penalty trouble for the Americans allowed the Pats back in as they scored three more, with two coming on the power play.
Bouchard had three points and Zazula, Hrabik, Lambert and Mutala each had two.
Boyko turned away 37-of-41 in the Tri-City net.
Tri-City was 2-for-3 on the PP and 5-for-7 on the PK.
The coming week:
Tuesday, 1/14/20: @Victoria
Wednesday, 1/15/20 @Victoria
-Tri-City beat Victoria 4-3 in OT and lost 3-1 at home in their other two meetings.
Friday, 1/17/20 @Kamloops
Saturday 1/18/20 @Kamloops
-An opportunity for former Blazer Zazula to exact some revenge on his old team.
The American Way…
-The loss to Seattle means the Americans are four points behind the Thunderbirds for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with two games in hand.
-The roster now sits at 14 forwards, nine defensemen (after Haynes is added) and two goalies for 25 total.
-Defenseman Tom Cadieux is again listed on the weekly report as out week-to-week with an upper body injury. Forwards Bowman and Stevenson are also listed as out day-to-day.
