Game Day Preview: Royals @ Americans

 

Friday November 29, 2013
Victoria Royals (17-10-0-1 35 pts.) At Tri-City Americans (14-11-1-2 31 pts.)
Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA; 7:05 p.m.
Listen: NewsTalk 870; 6:45 p.m.
Watch: WHL Live

Previous Game

Victoria: 11/23/13 vs. Kamloops (5-0, Win)

Tri-City: 11/23/13 at Spokane (3-4, Loss OT)
 
2013/14 Point Leaders

Victoria: Logan Nelson 11G-16A-27PT, Austin Carroll 12G-10A-22PT, Brandon Magee 7G-11A-18PT

Tri-City: Brian Williams 20G-10A-30PT, Connor Rankin 9G-17A-26PT, Parker Bowles 4G-15A-19PT

Game Overview

Tonight the Tri-City Americans take on the Victoria Royals for the third of four meetings this season. In the 2013-14 season series, each team has picked up one victory, winning its respective home game. Tri-City comes into the game tonight with an all-time record of 21-9-0-1 record against the Royals franchise dating back to the 2006-2007 season.

Players to Watch

Victoria:

Tyler Soy- After registering two goals and two assists through September and October, the British Columbia as exploded onto the scene during the month of November. In 11 games this month, Soy has registered six goals and four assists, including two goals in the team’s 5-0 victory against Kamloops last weekend.

Patrik Polivka- The Americans will face one of the league’s hottest goaltenders tonight when it takes on Patrik Polivka. The Czech Republic native was named the CHL goalie of the week for his play and holds a 2.28 goals against and a 0.923 save percentage, ranking fifth among WHL net minders in both categories.

Logan Nelson- Leading the Victoria Royals with 27 points (11G-16A) through 28 games this season is Logan Nelson. The 20-year-old forward has recorded points in both games against the Americans this year and comes into Kennewick riding a four-game point streak.

Tri-City:

Phil Tot- While the Americans only managed an overtime loss against the Chiefs last weekend, Tot’s performance was a silver lining for the team. The Calgary native registered a goal and an assist helping the team revitalize its power play. Coming into tonight, Tot is fourth on the team with 17 pts (8G-9A).

Jeff Hubic- This past week, the Americans acquired Jeff Hubic from the Kootenay Ice in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2014 Bantam Draft. Coming into this weekend’s action, the Saskatchewan native has tallied a goal and five assists in 27 games, recording a plus-five rating.

Rodney Southam- It was a career game for Southam when these teams last met back in October, the rookie forward scored twice for the Americans, leading Tri-City to a 4-2 Victory over the Royals. The Americans will look to get a repeat performance out of Southam tonight as the team looks to get back to its winning ways.

Game Notes

 

Hamonic Named Interim Captain: With regular captain Mitch Topping sidelined with an upper body injury for an extended period of time, the Americans have named defenseman Justin Hamonic the interim captain. The team also announced that forwards Phil Tot and Jessey Astles have been named assistant captains.

Comrie Takes Part in Subway Super Series: Americans’ net minder Eric Comrie represented Team WHL in the 2013 Subway Super Series earlier this week in Alberta. Comrie played in the first of two games that the WHL’s best played against Russia, turning in a solid 22 save performance in a 3-2 losing effort. Team WHL would defeat the Russians the following night, winning the series for the CHL.  

First Period Scoring: Statistically the first period has been a strength for the Americans outscoring its opponents 33-23 in the opening frame this season. Tri-City has been successful with early leads but have struggled coming from behind, recording zero third period comebacks during the 2013-14 campaign.

Against the B.C. Division: Tonight will be the ninth meeting against opponents from the B.C. Division, with a 4-4-0-0 record so far this season. Since losing its first two games against the conferences other division, The Americans have gone 4-2-0-0 with two wins against the Kamloops Blazers and a single victory against both the Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals.

Playing at the Toyota Center: This season, Tri-City is 9-4-0-0 playing at home, winning six of its last seven in front of the hometown faithful. Last Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Kelowna Rockets was the Americans first loss at the Toyota Center since October 19 against the Portland Winterhawks.

The Jim Hiller Connection:From 2006-2009, Americans head coach Jim Hiller served as head coach for the Victoria Royals organization back when it was known as the Chilliwack Bruins. Since taking the head coaching job in Tri-City, Hiller has a 9-8-0-1 record against his old team.

Next Game

Tri-City: vs. Spokane 11/30/13

Victoria: at Seattle 11/30/13