Front page | News archive | Sports | Internet guide | E-mail the Herald
Posted Jan. 10, 2002
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
The Western Hockey League trading deadline came and went Thursday with the Tri-City Americans keeping their roster intact.
"We're happy with what we have," said Americans general manager Bob Tory. "Now we have to march forward. I think we have improved significantly over time since the beginning of the season and now it's time to get on with it."
But just because the Americans didn't trade any players or let anyone go, it doesn't mean they weren't listening to offers.
"You're crazy if you don't listen," Tory said. "We were only going to make a deal to get better and younger. It had to meet both criteria."
The trade deadline fell just as the Americans are about to begin their five-games-in-six-days Eastern Division road trip, and Tory said everyone was a little on edge.
"Our players were a little nervous and are relieved that it's over," Tory said. "Now, we've got to go out and try to find a way to get some wins on this road trip."
The Americans (13-19-0-3) open their Eastern swing tonight at Brandon (27-8-4-3), which is 6-3-1 over its last 10 games. From Brandon, Tri-Cities will play at Moose Jaw on Saturday, Regina on Sunday, Prince Albert on Tuesday and finish at Saskatoon on Wednesday.
"We haven't spent a lot of time on the road this year," said Americans coach Shaun Clouston. "This will be a big test. You can play well up there and not win. We need the defense to be strong in front of the net and the goalie to make one more save. Hopefully, we have some success."
The Americans are 12-9-0-2 since snapping their 12-game losing streak and are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, despite missing starting goalie Tyler Weiman for five of those games.
With Weiman out with mononucleosis, the Americans brought in list player Kevin Dziaduck, who has gone 2-2 in four games. Ryan Senft, who backed up Weiman most of the season, posted a win against Vancouver during that stretch but was released Jan. 4.
"The guys have been very impressed with Dziaduck's play," Clouston said. "He's started four games and has played very well. He's confident and controlled. The guys are confident in front of him."
Weiman rejoined the team in Lethbridge on Tuesday and has practiced twice.
"He took shots and the hope is to get him in a game this trip," Tory said. "He'll be monitored day-to-day and hopefully, he'll be ready by the Spokane game on the 18th."
Other than Weiman, the only other major injury the Americans have is to forward Colin McRae, who dislocated his shoulder for the second time this season against Vancouver on Jan. 4.
With McRae out, the Americans added firepower with Aaron Haruether, who they picked up from the Junior A Prince George Spruce Kings on Tuesday.
"Adding Haruether gives us a little more offense," Tory said. "We're getting healthy and should start firing on all cylinders."
Notes: Trades and moves in the U.S. Division on Thursday included Seattle releasing former Tri-City goalie Blake Ward, 20, trading the rights to G Ryan Cyr to Lethbridge for G Ryan Papaioannou, and trading a sixth-round bantam pick to Swift Current for C Jason Roberts, 18. ... Spokane traded former Americans D Andrew DeSousa, 19, to Regina for a sixth-round bantam pick in 2004. ... Brandon, which made no blockbuster trades, picked up a college player, RW Mike Erickson of the University of Minnesota, from the Prince George Cougars for a 2003 eighth-round pick. The Wheat Kings have until midnight to sign Erickson, who had two points in 16 games for the Gophers, to a WHL card. The Americans' Feb. 26 game with the Portland Winter Hawks has been moved from Memorial Coliseum to the Rose Garden. Game time is 7 p.m.
| Tri-City Posse | Preps, college | Tri-City Americans | Opinion: Jim Riley |
Outdoors |
| Adult sports | Hydros | Area golf | Top 100 stories | Jeff Morrow |
This page and all contents are ©opyright 1999 by the
