The WHL season is well under way and several teams are riding a pretty good wave right now, including the Tri City Americans. "Dave Schultz", who writes about the Ams, has agreed to provide updates and insight for us this season. Here is her second dispatch about the boys from Kennewick:
Tri City Americans update - "Dave Schultz"
The Americans are 18 games into the regular season. What have they been up to?
WINNING.
- Brendan Shinnimin's 34 points put him in 2nd place in scoring in the WHL (6th in entire Canadian Hockey League).
- Shinnimin's 15 goals put him in 5th place for total goals scored.
- Drew Owsley leads the league in wins for a goaltender with 14 (2nd in CHL).
- AMS are 9-1-0-0 in their last 10 games, 7 of those on the road, and a couple were gut-check, come from behind victories.
- With the best winning percentage in the WHL (.833) the Americans sit alone atop the US Division and the Western Conference. They are tied for 2nd in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen.
*stats courtesy WHL.ca and CHL.ca
There were so many unknowns coming into this season for the Americans. How would new coach Jim Hiller lead the team? Is goaltending going to be an issue without Chet Pickard? Where will the scoring come from without any "superstars"?
Jim Hiller has done exceptionally well. He seems to rule with less of an iron fist that Don Nachbaur did and the players are responding. He is making guys earn their ice time, rather than having "favorites" (as Don sometimes did). He's rolling four lines because there is a lot of depth on this team. He's continued one of Nachbaur's systems which is instilling a belief they can win on any given night. The come-from-behind wins have been spectacular, not often seen in the WHL. So he's doing something right to inspire them, keep them going, never ever giving up. I came into the season being cautiously optimistic, AMS had been so successful under Nachbaur, but I'm sold on Hiller.
I admit, I'm completely biased, I adore Drew Owsley. He's an itty-bitty goalie at 5'8", 155 lbs, but he's quick and technically sound. The concern with goaltending coming into the season, for and Brett Martyniuk both, was that neither was expected to be a #1 goalie. Both had spent too much time on the bench or in the stands last season behind Chet Pickard. There wasn't a lot of belief in AMS-land that either could handle the job. In fact, GM Bob Tory selected Russian goalie Alex Pechurski in the CHL Import Draft in the summer. A goalie who has been drafted (but unsigned) by the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, Pechurski was (is?) under contract in Russia, and apparently is not joining the Americans. For the first couple weeks of the season, a lot of AMS fans were desperately wanting the Russian to show up, still doubting if Owsley or Martyniuk could do the job.
Drew Owsley has been nothing short of outstanding. His confidence is oozing out of his pores and that little 5'8" frame is standing tall in the net. What does he have to say about his season so far? From the Tri-City Herald:
"At the start of the year, I didn't think it would be going this well," said Owsley, an 18-year-old native of Lethbridge, Alberta. "Every game, every start, I get more confident. It's pretty surreal to think I'm a starting goalie in this league. Last year I didn't know when I would get to play."
"I worked out a lot this summer with (Americans goaltending consultant) Jerry Price," Owsley said. "He's taught me a lot. I knew there would be a great battle and I was prepared."
"I think getting to play every game and getting into a rhythm has helped," Owsley said. "Last year I was having to wait 10 games or more between starts. I'm getting in a groove and gaining confidence. It takes me back to when I was playing midget and starting every game. I'm in a comfort zone this year."
One of my favorite bloggers is Eyebleaf over at Sports and the City (language NSFW). He has undying passion and hope for his Toronto sports teams. He ran his own personal "I believe in Vernon Wells" (Blue Jays) campaign this year and the passion was infectious, even when Wells had a terrible season. What is the point of mentioning all this? At the beginning of the AMS season, I began an "I believe in Drew Owsley" campaign. And it's catching on. One of my blog readers/commenters said it best--"whoo whoo who needs the Russian goalie?".
As for scoring, worrying where offense would come from without any "superstars", it's hardly been a problem. Scoring is being done by committee. It seems that committee is being led by 18-year-old Brendan Shinnimin and 18-year-old Adam Hughesman. Other contributions are coming from Johnny Lazo (20), Brooks Macek (17), Justin Feser (17), and even the defense is jumping in on scoring with Brett Plouffe (20) and Jarrett Toll (20) leading the D in points. In the November 6th 8-2 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants, THIRTEEN different players got on the scoresheet. Scoring by committee, that's how it's done.
Once again, it seems the WHL's US Division will be one of the toughest in the league. Will the AMS be able to hang on to 1st place? Will Portland's success continue? Hard to say. Right now, best I can do as a fan is hang on and enjoy the wild and amazing ride.
See you next month for the next update!
~ "Dave Schultz"
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