Tri-City began their Central Division road trip and new year off with a 3-0 win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Kyle Kelsey was the man behind the win Friday night and the man of the hour. Kelsey got his first shutout with Tri-City and stopped 38 shots. Parker Bell also got two goals on the night and 2024 is off to a good start for Tri-City.
No goals were scored in the first period, however, Tri-City had a very explosive start to the first period outshooting Lethbridge 7-2 in the first ten minutes. From that point forward, Lethbridge would dominate play, throwing several shots off the pipe including a puck that bounced off both posts. The puck had a mind of its own however and stayed out.
Shots after one period of play were 15-14 in favor of Tri-City.
Lethbridge would pose a huge threat again in the second period, however no goals were scored yet again. The Irish luck was with the Americans tonight, as countless more shots had rang off the pipe it was without number. Kelsey made the save of the night in the WHL, on a cross-crease pass, Kelsey stuck out his pad and blocker, almost doing the splits and made the pad save over halfway through the second period.
Shots after two periods of play were 26-20 in favor of Lethbridge with the game being scoreless.
Tri-City would come out guns blazing in the third period. Parker Bell, the overager and Flames signee, scored 42 seconds in getting the Americans’ first goal of 2024. After a mad scramble out front, the puck popped right to Parker Bell’s stick. Bell swatted the puck into a virtually empty net, opening scoring.
Parker Bell with time winding down in the game would get his second goal of the game. Bell yet again found himself at the front of the net where he would chip the puck towards Lethbridge goaltender Harrison Meneghin. Meneghin would then accidentally kick the puck into the net making it 2-0 Tri-City.
After a bit of a tic-tac-toe play, Jordan Gavin found himself an empty-net goal with just thirty seconds left in the game which would give him two points on the night. Jake Sloan would be credited with the assist.
With their win, Tri-City will head to Medicine Hat to play the Tigers on Saturday, Jan. 6 with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 