Vanecek, Wendt and Adam heading to NHL Camps
Kennewick, WA. – The Tri-City Americans are proud to announce three players, Jaxen Adam (Tampa Bay), Xavier Wendt (Pittsburgh) and Jakub Vanecek (Dallas) have been invited to NHL camps.
Adam, from Cochrane, Alberta, is entering his third full season with the Americans after being drafted in the fifth round, 90th overall, in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He will play for Tampa Bay at their prospects showcase being hosted in Morrisville, North Carolina. The Lightning prospects are scheduled to play the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators on September 14 and 15.
The towering 6-foot-4, 225-pound defenseman had a career year during the 2025-26 season, posting 16 points (3-13-16) in 66 games along with 97 penalty minutes, which led the team.
In 137 career games, all with Tri-City, Adam has recorded 26 points (6-20-26).
Wendt, from Plymouth, Minnesota, is entering his second season with the Americans. In 43 games last year Wendt had an 18-20-2-1 record, 3.25 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. On December 3, 2025, Wendt became the 11th goalie in WHL history to score a goal, hitting an empty net across the ice in a 4-0 win over the Swift Current Broncos. He also recorded his first career shutout the same night.
Wendt attended Pittsburgh Penguins development camp earlier in the summer. He joins the Penguins for their prospects tournament, being held in Detroit, for games against Columbus (September 12), Detroit (September 13) and Dallas (September 15).
Vanecek, from Humpolec, Czechia, was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 2026 NHL Draft, 59th overall in the second round. Vanecek had an excellent 2025-26 season in the WHL, leading all rookie defensemen with 14 goals to go along with 21 assists for 35 points.
Taken with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft by Tri-City, Vanecek joined Team Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota, and while he didn’t dress for any game action, he came back with a silver medal from the event.
He became the 70th player in Americans franchise history to be taken in the NHL Draft this summer.
The Americans continue to march towards their home opener by hosting the Gesa pre-season tournament this coming weekend. For the first time since 2018, all games will be held inside the Toyota Center. The Americans play two games at the tournament, Saturday, September 12 at 6:05 against Spokane and Sunday, September 13 at 2:05 against Wenatchee.
The 2026-27 WHL regular season opens Saturday, September 19 when the Americans host the Spokane Chiefs at 6:05 at the Toyota Center.
