Game Recap
Jake Gudelj and Max Curran debuted this season for Tri-City after being away at NHL Camps. Shaun Rios also made his WHL debut for the Americans in a physical game where both sides totaled 48 PIM combined.
After the game, Americans head coach Stu Barnes noted the two players who were back in the lineup after being away at NHL Camps.
“I think both guys that went to pro camps, good ones at that, they were able to come back and bring that experience and are going to be able to use that at this level; it’s gonna be exciting to watch them this season.”
Barnes also made sure to point out Shaun Rios’s WHL Debut.
“Rios didn’t play much early, but as the game went on, he got to play in more critical situations higher up in the lineup, and I thought he handled it very well.”
Spokane completely controlled the game after the first ten minutes of the first period as Tri-City seemingly shot themselves in the foot all night long with careless penalties. Spokane converted on two of five power-play opportunities, which really won the game for the Chiefs.
After the game, American head coach Stu Barnes discussed penalty issues in his analysis of the team’s performance.
“I thought we started really well in the first half of the first period, but I think after that, penalties got us behind the eight ball, and when their first two lines are ultra-skilled, and when you give them a chance to use their skills, they are going to score goals, and that’s precisely what they did tonight, and it beat us so we definitely will need to work on our discipline.”
Brandon Whynott got the lone goal for the Americans in the contest at 3:15 in the second period on the power play.
At the point, Pavao fired a wrist shot that went right off Chief netminder Dawson Cowan’s pad to Brandon Whynott’s stick, who was lurking in front of the net. Whynott snapped away a shot quickly past Cowan’s outstretched pad.
For Spokane, Shea Van Olm’s three-point night, including two goals, was enough to earn him first-star honors and lead Spokane to victory.
Kazakhstan Import Asanali Sarkenov of Spokane also picked up his first career WHL goal to cap off scoring in the game halfway through the third period. Sarkenov, at a sharp angle, fired it right by the mask of Americans goalie Lukas Matecha, making it 4-1.
Dawson Cowan of Spokane stopped an impressive 33 shots of 34 in his second start of the season after returning from San Jose’s NHL Camp.
Game Notes
With the loss on Saturday, Tri-City falls to 1-1-1 on the year.
Tri-City’s Special Teams performance was 2/5 on the penalty kill and 1/5 on the power play.
The Americans did outshoot the Chiefs, the final shot tally being 34-29 in favor of Tri-City.
Saturday’s loss marks the fifth straight loss Tri-City has suffered in Spokane. Tri-City last won in Spokane during the Chiefs’ 2023/24 home opener by a score of 2-1.
Tri-City will have plenty of time to get revenge from Saturday’s loss as the Americans are scheduled to play Spokane nine more times this season.
Defenseman Terrell Goldsmith was not in the lineup Saturday for Tri-City. Just a few hours before puck drop in Spokane, Goldsmith was reassigned to Tri-City from the Utah Hockey Club. Goldsmith will play his first game for Tri-City next Saturday for the American’s home opener against the Kelowna Rockets.
Shaun Rios, the 2020 U.S. Priority Draft second overall pick, had some positive things to say after his WHL debut and why he chose to sign with the Americans despite his NCAA Commitment with Lindenwood University.
“This is somewhere I have simply always wanted to be, honestly. It seems like the rules will change regarding the CHL and NCAA, but I really want to be here in Tri-City either way. Along with that, American fans can expect me to be a hard, fast, physical player who gives his all on the ice.”
So far, Rios has also enjoyed his one-week stay in Tri-City.
“All the guys have been nice, pretty much everybody; there’s no one specific player that’s taken me under their wing. They are all showing me around and have been very welcoming to me, I love it so far.”
Spokane also named Berkly Catton, the eighth overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft to the Seattle Kraken, their newest captain before the game.
After the game, Berkly Catton spoke about being named Captain of the Spokane Chiefs before the game.
“That was some pretty exciting news for sure. You know, it’s something I have kind of been looking forward to for a while, and for it to happen, it was pretty cool.”
Transaction
One transaction was made this week. Overage Goaltender Kyle Kelsey was officially removed from the Americans’ roster and placed on CHL Waivers, which he cleared.
Kelsey appeared in 32 games for Tri-City last season and had a 9-19-1 record with a .877 save percentage and a 4.65 Goals Allowed Average. Kelsey has not signed with any club as of yet.
Injury Update
Following Saturday’s contest, there was an injury update regarding Americans defenseman Ismail Abogouche.
Barnes stated that Abogouche is getting closer to returning to the lineup; he is just a little ways out and needs just a little more time.
What’s Next
Tri-City will now have a week off as they prepare for their home opener against Kelowna on Saturday, October 5th. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at the Toyota Center.
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