A little over halfway through the season, the Tri-City Americans stand sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 16-21-3. As of this writing, Tri-City is riding a five-game losing streak heading home after an abysmal Central Division Road Trip and questionable Trade deadline day.
New Players
Tri-City has added seven players to the roster by trade or training camp signing since the beginning of the season or just before the start of the season.
Those players include the likes of Mason Finley, who joined the team a day before the trade deadline from Edmonton for a 2026 eighth-round pick. Finley is a 2004-born forward who will look to reset with a new team after having a poor start to his season only recording 3 points in 33 games this season compared to his 25 points in 68 games played last season.
The training camp signing includes Thomas Tien. Tien previously played for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. Tien is a relentless worker; Tien’s efforts do not appear on the stat sheet most nights.
In late August, Jake Gudelj was another player added to the roster by trade. A rare transaction occurred between Spokane and Tri-City. Gudelj was sent to Tri-City for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. Gudelj, however, was hurt early into the season and will be back in late March for the playoffs.
Brandon Whynott was traded to Tri-City from the Calgary Hitmen at the beginning of August. Whynott was exchanged for a 2024 fifth-round pick. Whynott brings a physical presence to the squad and stands as a perfect depth piece within the lineup. Whynott brings years of WHL Experience to the lineup as well.
Carter MacAdams was the most recent addition to the team. MacAdams previously played for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. Tri-City sent a 2026 Third-Round pick in exchange for MacAdams. MacAdams provides a good amount of experience to the American’s lineup. MacAdams fits into a depth-scoring role similar to Brandon Whynott.
Kyle Kelsey joins the squad as the new backup goaltender for the Tri-City Americans, following an abysmal start to the season by former Americans goaltender Nick Avakyan. Tri-City needed a fresh goalie; Kelsey joined the club through trade. Tri-City sent a 2024 Fourth-Round pick and a 2025 Second-Round pick to the Red Deer Rebels for Kelsey. Kelsey is now the backup goaltender, while Lukas Matecha holds the starter role.
Former Players
Tri-City has made several acquisitions this season. However, the Americans have also sent a few players away or lost players to the pro level.
Tomas Suchanek, who looked like he would return to Tri-City for one more year, signed a deal in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. Suchanek started the year in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers. However, Suchanek has worked his way up to the Gulls and held a spot on the team. Tomas Suchanek currently holds a .930 Save Percentage and 2.14 GAA with a 4-2-1 Record in seven games played this season for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and is on par with Anaheim Ducks top goaltending prospect Calle Clang.
Adam Mechura played one game for the Americans this season before signing a two-year deal with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. Mechura currently plays in the ECHL for the Maine Mariners and has sixteen points in twenty-five games.
Tyson Greenway, a fan favorite in Tri-City, was shipped off to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a 2026 Second-Round Pick. Greenway had played for Tri-City the past four seasons and played in five games for Tri-City this season before being traded to Calgary. Tri-City had four overage players on the roster and had to trade one away and Greenway took the bullet.
Nick Avakyan entered his third season in Tri-City with aspirations of winning the starting job after being the backup to World Junior sensation Tomas Suchanek. However, that was not the case. In four games played for the Tri-City Americans, Avakyan had a .756 Save Percentage and 7.75 Goals Allowed Average with a 1-3 Record and was subsequently benched after the Kyle Kelsey trade.
Avakyan was traded to the Portland Winterhawks at the beginning of December after several goalies had been injured. Avakyan currently holds the starting reigns in Portland after a third goalie injury. With Portland, Avakyan has seven games played as of writing this and has a .901 Save Percentage with a 3.38 Goals Allowed Average and a record of 5-2.
Pasha Bocharov was traded on deadline day in a very questionable trade after Tory had acquired Bocharov at the beginning of this season and had been performing well, playing various roles for the Americans due to injuries.
Key Contributors
Halfway through the Tri-City campaign, a few players are opening eyes with how well they have developed and played.
The first is Jordan Gavin. Currently, Jordan Gavin leads the team in points and is only 17 years old. Gavin has 46 points in fourty games played. Gavin is second on the team in Goals and first in Assists. Gavin has played every game for the Americans this season. Gavin has an incredible shot for his age, along with that Gavin also brings incredible discipline for his level, as he has not recorded a single penalty this season. Gavin is predicted to be a top pick in a few years at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft when he becomes eligible.
A eye opener for many includes Maximillian Curran, the 17-year-old from Czechia in his first year in North America. Curran has 29 points in thirty-eight games played as of writing this. Curran displays an incredible passing ability and high hockey IQ. Curran only has four goals on the season; however, he has twenty-five assists, which is second on the Americans. You can trust Curran with the puck to make a play out of nothing and find a teammate for a goal. With his enormous size, Curran is also a nuisance in front of the net. According to multiple outlets, Curran is expected to be taken somewhere in the second round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft this summer. Curran will also play in the Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game on January 24th in Moncton alongside Lukas Matecha.
Lukas Dragicevic has been a force to reckon with on the blue line this season. Halfway through the season, Dragicevic is approaching a career-high in goals. Dragicevic currently has 32 points in thirty-eight games played this season. The second-round pick of the Seattle Kraken last Summer may have lower numbers than the previous season halfway through. Still, the Offensive Defenseman can create something out of nothing and has drastically improved his defense compared with last season. The Tri-City powerplay runs through Dragicevic still. This is where Dragicevic makes his money’s worth, as he has led the team in assists on the powerplay, much like last season.
In the net, Lukas Matecha is the man for Tri-City. With nineteen games played this year, and it being his first year in North America, the 18-year-old from Pardubice, Czechia, has excelled. In nineteen games played, Matecha has a .914 Save Percentage with a 2.87 GAA and a 9-10-2 record. Matecha has been listed on the NHL Central Scouting report. Matecha will also be playing in the Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game with Maximillian Curran this January. Without Matecha, Tri-City, over halfway through the season, would have looked much worse record-wise.
Last but not least, Parker Bell was signed in September by the Calgary Flames of the NHL but sent back to Tri-City in early October. Bell has 35 points in thirty-two games played this season. His success can be traced to his tremendous size and speed. Bell is 6’5 but also one of the fastest players on the ice at all times. Bell outworks players with that electric speed and always finds his teammates on the rush. He can find the slot quickly with his speed and fire a deadly shot as he leads the Americans in goals with 19. Bell is on pace to score 36 goals, which would break his previous career best of 25.
Key Issues
Tri-City has had some issues that have dragged the squad down this season. Some are reoccurring, while others differ from what you would expect from this squad.
Tri-City has an abysmal power play. Overall, Tri-City has a power play of 18.8%. The power play on the road is a staggering 10%. Last season, Tri-City had one of the best power plays in the league and arguably the best power play at home. However, Tri-City lost two of their best power play scorers from last season. Ethan Ernst aged out, and Adam Mechura signed a pro deal with the Providence Bruins. This leaves Tri-City sitting tied for 21st overall on the power play.
The Penalty Kill is another concern, as it was last season. Tri-City currently sits 21st out of 22 teams in the Penalty Kill Department with a 71.1%. Special teams have yet to show their colors and will need extra work if the Americans look to hold onto a playoff spot.
The defense has been a real issue this season. Everyone likes to point their fingers at the goalies for letting in goals. However, out of seven defensemen currently on the roster, only two have a +/- greater than 0. The two overage defensemen, Alex Serraglio and especially Ethan Peters, have underperformed this season.
Ethan Peters has a +/- of -15, along with Alex Serraglio at a -15. The number two overall pick in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft, Jackson Smith has a -14. Tri-City needs to flip the switch defensively as the team is set to concede more goals than last season, with arguably a better defensive core this season compared to last season.
Forward-wise, many will scratch their heads about why Tri-City is struggling to score. The experience and skill you can find up and down the lineup for Tri-City raises questions about why the forwards can’t find the back of the net. Tri-City is also on pace to score fewer goals than last season. Tri-City had a goal differential of +11 last season. However, over halfway through this season currently have a -47 goal differential.
Overall, Tri-City needs to improve almost every aspect of their game. According to many in the American front office, this season was going to be a step up from last season. So far, that is not the case. On paper, the team is slated with incredible talent. However, that has yet to translate on the ice.
Promise
If Tri-City can turn their special teams around and start to score on five-on-five play, more wins will be generated. Along with the defense turning their game around. This will be a tough task to ask for the Americans.
However, there are 28 games left and Tri-City are clinging onto a spot. Perhaps like last season, Tri-City could have a surge at the end of the season heading into the playoffs and hold onto a playoff spot.
Northwest Sports Desk 