After a frustrating 2023/24 season in which the Tri-City Americans finished second to last in the Western Conference. The team entered the current season with few expectations from many people. To the surprise of many, the Americans have emerged as contenders in the Western Conference. Eager to prove themselves and determined to reach the playoffs for the second time since the 2018/19 season.
Tri-City began the season with a tough 1-3-1 record, which included a tough 2-1 loss to the Kelowna Rockets during the Home Opener—a game the Americans would likely win nine out of ten times. This marked the first time the Americans lost a home opener since the 2019/20 season when they fell to the Spokane Chiefs 7-1. Additionally, the last time the Americans started a season with a 1-3-1 record in their first five games was in the 2013/14 season.
Although the record appeared discouraging, a closer look revealed that the Americans were doing many things right; they simply couldn’t secure a victory after 60 minutes of play. However, following this tough start, a remarkable turnaround took place.
Tri-City went on to win twelve consecutive games, just one shy of tying the franchise record of thirteen wins in a row. Which ended during their first game of the Eastern Conference Road trip against the Prince Albert Raiders. During this impressive stretch, the Americans clinched five of their victories in overtime, with ten of the wins occurring at home. Notably, two of these victories came against the WHL’s top team, the Everett Silvertips. One highlight was a thrilling 6-5 comeback win at home, where the Americans rallied from a 4-1 deficit midway through the second period.
This season, the Americans also embarked on their Eastern Conference swing earlier than usual. After a disappointing 1-5 record during the swing in the previous season, Tri-City significantly improved this year with a 4-2 record.
However, the Americans in the month of December came back down to earth and closed out the first half of the season with a 1-5-1-1 record that includes five losses in a row heading into the New Year.
Team Statistics
The Americans are 19-11-2-1 on the year and, heading into the new year, sit fifth in the Western Conference. They are just one point outside of fourth place, which would give them home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
Tri-City is averaging 3.9 goals per game in the first half with 128 goals scored. However, they are conceding an average of 3.7 goals per game with 123 conceded. Last season, the Americans averaged only 3.0 goals a game and conceded an average of 4.5.
In addition to the Americans 128 goals scored, that puts them seventh overall in goals scored. While with 123 goals allowed, the Americans stand tenth in the goals allowed category.
The Americans’ power play is the worst in the Western Conference and third worst in the league, with a 16.0%. However, Tri-City’s penalty kill is much improved from last season and is tied for the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, with 82.1%.
Last season, the power play finished at 19%, while the penalty kill was 71%.
With 391 penalty minutes so far, the Americans are thirteenth in penalty minutes in the WHL.
Although struggling as of recently with only one home win in their last five going into the second half, the Americans so far have had the longest winning streak at home out of any club this season with ten in a row and longest winning streak in the league with twelve in a row.
New Acquisitions
In early November, it was announced that the NCAA would consider CHL players eligible to compete at the NCAA level, marking a historic change. Since this announcement, a few players have signed with Tri-City due to the NCAA ruling. However, the first half of the season has been a very quiet in terms of transactions.
In fact, all new acquisitions for the Americans during the first half of the season have been NCAA commits playing in the BCHL. Aside from veteran goaltender Logan Cunningham, who serves as an emergency goalie and currently plays in the AJHL for the Devon Xtreme, no players were added to the actual Americans’ roster via trade.
Savin Virk
The first signing was 2007-born forward Savin Virk, a Michigan State commit who previously played in the BCHL for the Chilliwack Chiefs. Virk was a former third-round pick for Tri-City in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft. So far, he has been a great addition to the roster, recording eight points in fourteen games.
Ryan Grout
The last signing was goaltender Ryan Grout, who transitioned from the BCHL to the WHL as well. Grout played a season and a half with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL, boasting an impressive record of 19 wins, 7 losses, and 2 overtime losses, along with a .920 save percentage and 2.30 goals against average (GAA).
The seventeen-year-old netminder is committed to playing college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. So far, Grout has had only one opportunity to start in net, as the Americans have three goaltenders on their roster, including him. In his lone start, Grout lost on the road against Portland in the first game back from the Christmas break, making 35 saves on 40 shots, resulting in a .875 save percentage and a 5.16 GAA. The outcome was not entirely his fault, as several costly turnovers led to significant scoring chances for Portland.
Departures
Only one player was traded away during the first half of the season, and his time in Tri-City was brief: forward Shaun Rios. Rios, a product of Shattuck-St. Mary’s, was the Americans’ second overall selection in the 2020 U.S. Priority Draft to Tri-City. He signed with the team on the opening day of the 2024-25 season.
During his time with the Americans, Rios scored three goals in nine games before being traded to the Wenatchee Wild. Since joining the Wild, he has significantly improved, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in fifteen games.Rios scored three goals in nine games with the Americans before being traded to the Wenatchee Wild, where he has blossomed up to this point. In fifteen games with the Wenatchee Wild, Rios has thirteen points.
Positives
One of the biggest positives following the first half of the season is Tri-City’s remarkable lack of injuries. For most of the first half, the Americans have had their entire roster available, and injuries have been limited to day-to-day issues at worst. This is a pleasant surprise and a rarity for the team, which will be crucial for their success in the second half.
A major question heading into this season from many people was whether Tri-City would be able to score goals. Fortunately, the depth of their forwards has played a significant role in their offensive success. On any given night, the Americans have three strong forward lines that can score at any moment, demonstrated by the 128 goals they have achieved so far. There is not one standout star player for Tri-City with the forwards. It is an overall team effort that gets them their success, not one player carrying the load.
The penalty kill, operating at an impressive 82.1%, has been exceptional and vital for the team in the first half, just as the power play has been. The last time the penalty kill reached 82% was during the 2014-2015 regular season.
The speed that this team overall possesses is a significant positive. When the team can orchestrate a good breakout, it is done rather quickly. Along with the dump and chase method the Americans play, the speed fits right into it which allows Tri-City to apply a lot of pressure and force turnovers in the opposing team’s end.
Individual Efforts
This season, multiple players have stepped up to the plate for the Americans and made significant strides in their development over the past offseason.
Gavin Garland
Forward Gavin Garland has emerged as the biggest surprise on the team. At just eighteen years old, he joined the WHL as a rookie and has quickly positioned himself as a strong contender for Rookie of the Year and as one of the top players on the Americans.
In 32 games played, Garland has accumulated 35 points, making him the second-highest scorer on the Americans and among rookies in the WHL. He is on track for a remarkable 76-point season and leads the team with eighteen goals. Garland was named WHL Rookie of the Month in November and has also earned the title of WHL Rookie of the Week on two occasions. At one point, he enjoyed a phenomenal ten-game point streak, which has since been snapped.
If the Americans aspire to regain their winning form, Garland will be a crucial player, as he has been all season. He is an exceptional skater with an impressive shot. Garland has clearly taken the league by storm, and if he performs similarly in the second half of the season, could potentially be an NHL draft pick in June.
Brandon Whynott
Overager Brandon Whynott, who has also shown significant development and plays a vital role in the Americans’ success to this date.
Following the first half of the season, Whynott has recorded 38 points in 33 games, the highest among all American players. This surpasses his previous season best of 33 points, which he achieved last year with the Americans. So far, he has scored seventeen goals, placing him second on the team. Whynott is on pace for an impressive 81-point season and enjoyed a thirteen-game point streak in the first half—the longest on the team.
Whynott brings excellent speed, physicality, and adds a powerful shot to the lineup, making him a key contributor to the Tri-City offense.
Jordan Gavin
Jordan Gavin has enjoyed himself a solid first half in his first draft eligible year.
Gavin, with 30 points 33 games, is not on pace to match what he did last year with the Americans, has still been one of the best forwards on the team. He is third on the team in goals with fourteen and is a superb forechecker, along with being a pivotal member on the penalty kill.
Gavin has continued to be that playmaker and two-way forward that he has always been known as in this first half. He is a very smart hockey player with great anticipation and just overall very good hockey sense which allows him to succeed at this level. Gavin will continue to be a big part of this lineup in the second half.
Jackson Smith
After a strong first-half campaign, star defenseman Jackson Smith is climbing the NHL draft boards.
In just his second season in the WHL at seventeen years old, Smith has recorded 25 points in 33 games and is on pace for 53 points by the end of the season. He also holds a +6 rating. Smith currently leads all Americans defensemen in points and ranks third among them in plus/minus.
According to McKeen’s Hockey, Smith is ranked as high as seventh in the upcoming NHL Draft. This season, Smith has become more consistent, intelligent, and patient with the puck, displaying improved time management skills. One of his standout qualities is his ability to lead breakouts, something his teammates on Tri-City often struggle with.
Which is why he plays a crucial role on every American power play and gets so many minutes every night. In addition to his offensive contributions, Smith is very physical, making it challenging for opposing teams to enter the zone on his side. Smith exemplifies what it takes to be an NHL defenseman, checking off all the boxes. At only seventeen, Smith is undoubtedly one of the best defensemen in the WHL and a prize for the Americans to have.
Terrell Goldsmith
Nineteen-year-old Terrell Goldsmith is a defenseman and a key partner on the top line alongside Jackson Smith. He has been a standout player on the Tri-City Americans’ defensive squad. Goldsmith is also one of two players from Tri-City currently to be selected in the NHL Draft.
Having signed his Entry-Level Contract (ELC) with the Utah Hockey Club in mid-October, Goldsmith is currently in his fifth year in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and is on track for a career-best season following the first half. Goldsmith boasts the highest plus/minus rating on the Americans with a +10, which is also a personal best for him. Additionally, he has recorded 10 points, placing him third among the defensemen on Tri-City.
If he continues at this pace, he is projected to finish the season with 22 points, another career high. Goldsmith stands out as the best shutdown defenseman on the Americans and is known for being one of the most physical players in the league and could be best summarized as a tank. Goldsmith has played a vital role on the penalty kill, contributing significantly to its success this season. Overall, Goldsmith has been everything Tri-City was looking for when they traded for him in July.
Austin Zemlak
The trade involving Austin Zemlak and former American Deagan McMillan has turned out to be a highway robbery for the Americans as the first half of the season unfolded.
Zemlak is experiencing a career year in his fourth WHL season, having made significant strides during the offseason after being invited to the Vegas Golden Knights development camp following the NHL Draft. He is currently second on the Americans in points with 20 and ranks second among American defensemen in plus/minus with a +8. As a former first-round pick of the Victoria Royals, Zemlak is finally becoming the player the Royals had hoped for. With 20 points so far, he is on track to finish the season with around 40 points, surpassing his previous career high of 22.
Zemlak is an athletic player with a versatile skill set, best described as an all-around defenseman. This season, he has made the most progress in his offensive play and is a key contributor to the power play.
What To Improve
Despite a strong record, the Tri-City Americans experienced a significant downturn in performance during December. They resembled the team many expected at the start of the season. Here are a few areas the Americans need to improve upon in the second half of the season before the playoffs.
Defensively, the team needs support to put it plain and simple.
Goaltender Lukas Matecha ranks in the top three for shots faced per game in the WHL with 30 on average. The Americans have conceded 123 goals, which is the third-most among the top 10 teams in the league. The team’s defensive depth takes a nosedive after the top three defensemen. The Americans frequently struggle with zone clears, leading to many turnovers in their zone and high-quality scoring chances for opposing sides. It is crucial to strengthen their defensive lineup and to acquire another top four defenseman before the trade deadline.
On the special team’s front, the American’s power play is a comedy show. With a power play conversion rate of just 16.0%, Tri-City rank as one of the worst in the entire league, third worst, to be exact. The team often has difficulty setting up in the opponent’s zone, and when they do, the Americans struggle to generate quality scoring opportunities. There is a notable lack of creativity in the power play, and it is essential for the coaching staff to address this issue immediately.
Starting goalie Lukas Matecha needs to be more consistent in the net for this team to have a strong second half and a chance at a deep playoff run. Although much of it is not his fault, Matecha does let in quite a few soft goals and is not always square to the shooter, leading to a lot of inconsistency, as stated.
Overall
At their best, this team can compete with anyone in the WHL; however, the question is whether they can return to that level in the second half.
Tri-City is capable of it after a strong start. Nobody can play a perfect 68 games; everyone has a cold spell at some point, and perhaps that is now for the Americans. With a resurgence on the power play and help on the defensive end in the second half, could easily skyrocket back to the top three in the Western Conference with a strong second half.
The second half does look bright for this squad. The pieces are primarily there; it’s just a matter of putting the puzzle together. This team should perform better in the second half this season and be able to secure at least home ice for the first round of the WHL playoffs. Regardless, this team has beaten everyone’s expectations already and will be fun to watch in the second half of the season.
Make sure you keep it locked on Area 51 for everything Tri-City Americans.
