The Tri-City Americans are an American major junior ice hockey team playing in the Western Hockey League and based in Kennewick, Washington. Founded in 1966 as the Calgary Buffaloes, the team settled in Kennewick in 1988 after a number of relocations. The team plays its home games at Toyota Center, which was purpose-built for the team. The team has won one Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions and have played in one league playoff final; however, the Americans have not won a playoff championship.
History
Foundations
The Americans franchise began as a founding franchise of the league, beginning as the Calgary Buffaloes in 1966. The original team was renamed the "Centennials" after one season. In 1977, the franchise relocated to Montana and was known as the Billings Bighorns—part of an initial wave of American teams in the league. In 1982, the team moved again, this time to Nanaimo, British Columbia, where the team played for one season as the Nanaimo Islanders. The team then moved to New Westminster, BC, to become the second incarnation of the New Westminster Bruins.
Tumultuous beginnings
The team's new arena in Kennewick, the Tri-Cities Coliseum, was not ready in time for the start of the team's first season in Washington, forcing the team to seek practice ice in Walla Walla and to play its first seventeen games on the road. The team's inaugural game was a 4–2 loss in Spokane against the Chiefs. The team finally debuted in their new home arena on November 20, 1988, defeating the Seattle Thunderbirds 4–3 in overtime in front of 6,000 spectators. Dixon ultimately agreed that Kozuback would continue coaching the team, rather than LaForge. In that season's playoffs, during their first round series against the Thunderbirds, Kozuback and several players got into a physical altercation with fans, who had apparently been pouring beer onto the bench; Kozuback and two players were suspended, while Seattle was fined for its fans' actions. In 2021, Barnes would be named the team's head coach.
The Americans' had their most successful run in a five-season period from 2007–08 to 2011–12, when the team topped the U.S. Division four times. In 2007–08, led by goaltender Chet Pickard and coach-of-the-year Don Nachbaur, the team won the regular season title with a 52-win, 108-point season, before losing a seven-game conference final series against Spokane that featured a then-record five overtime games. The following season, at their annual New Year's Eve game against the Chiefs on December 31, 2008, the Americans set a team record for attendance with 6,042 attendees. In 2009–10, the Americans won their third straight division title and advanced to the championship series for the first time in history. They faced the Calgary Hitmen, losing the series in five games.
Jody Hull was named head coach for the 2025–26 WHL season.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#C41230 5px solid"
! Season !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! OTL !! GF !! GA !! Points !! Finish !! Playoffs
|-
| 1988–89 || 72 || 33 || 34 || 5 ||—|| 300 || 299 || 71 || 4th West || Lost West Division semifinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1989–90 || 72 || 39 || 28 || 5 ||—|| 433 || 354 || 83 || 3rd West || Lost West Division semifinal
|-
| 1990–91 || 72 || 36 || 32 || 4 ||—|| 404 || 386 || 76 || 4th West || Lost West Division semifinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1991–92 || 72 || 35 || 35 || 2 ||—|| 363 || 376 || 72 || 2nd West || Lost West Division quarterfinal
|-
| 1992–93 || 72 || 28 || 41 || 3 ||—|| 245 || 312 || 59 || 6th West || Lost West Division quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1993–94 || 72 || 19 || 48 || 5 ||—|| 272 || 373 || 43 || 6th West || Lost West Division quarterfinal
|-
| 1994–95 || 72 || 36 || 31 || 5 ||—|| 295 || 279 || 77 || 4th West || Lost West Division final
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1995–96 || 72 || 45 || 25 || 2 ||—|| 336 || 255 || 92 || 3rd West || Lost West Division semifinal
|-
| 1996–97 || 72 || 22 || 43 || 7 ||—|| 225 || 288 || 51 || 7th West || Did not qualify
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1997–98 || 72 || 17 || 49 || 6 ||—|| 264 || 371 || 40 || 7th West || Did not qualify
|-
| 1998–99 || 72 || 43 || 23 || 6 ||—|| 311 || 219 || 92 || 2nd West || Lost West Division final
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 1999–00 || 72 || 24 || 39 || 7 || 2 || 231 || 288 || 57 || 6th West || Lost West Division quarterfinal
|-
| 2000–01 || 72 || 21 || 36 || 8 || 7 || 217 || 284 || 57 || 7th West || Did not qualify
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2001–02 || 72 || 31 || 31 || 10 || 0 || 260 || 271 || 72 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|-
| 2002–03 || 72 || 20 || 44 || 3 || 5 || 240 || 335 || 48 || 4th U.S. || Did not qualify
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2003–04 || 72 || 31 || 27 || 10 || 4 || 205 || 197 || 76 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference semifinal
|-
| 2004–05 || 72 || 26 || 34 || 8 || 4 || 172 || 196 || 64 || 4th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|-
! Season !! GP !! W !! L !! OTL !! SOL !! GF !! GA !! Points !! Finish !! Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2005–06 || 72 || 30 || 35 || 4 || 3 || 188 || 221 || 67 || 4th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|-
| 2006–07 || 72 || 47 || 23 || 1 || 1 || 240 || 190 || 96 || 2nd U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2007–08 || 72 || 52 || 16 || 2 || 2 || 262 || 176 || 108 || 1st U.S. || Lost Western Conference final
|-
| 2008–09 || 72 || 49 || 20 || 0 || 3 || 263 || 184 || 101 || 1st U.S. || Lost Western Conference semifinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2009–10 || 72 || 47 || 22 || 1 || 2 || 272 || 193 || 97 || 1st U.S. || Lost final
|-
| 2010–11 || 72 || 44 || 24 || 2 || 2 || 286 || 223 || 92 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference semifinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2011–12 || 72 || 50 || 18 || 2 || 2 || 281 || 190 || 104 || 1st U.S. || Lost Western Conference final
|-
| 2012–13 || 72 || 40 || 27 || 2 || 3 || 246 || 227 || 85 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarter-final
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2013–14 || 72 || 29 || 33 || 4 || 6 || 178 || 224 || 68 || 5th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|-
| 2014–15 || 72 || 31 || 38 || 0 || 3 || 190 || 242 || 65 || 5th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2015–16 || 72 || 35 || 34 || 2 || 1 || 236 || 253 || 73 || 5th U.S. || Did not qualify
|-
| 2016–17 || 72 || 41 || 28 || 3 || 0 || 272 || 252 || 85 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2017–18 || 72 || 38 || 25 || 8 || 1 || 255 || 249 || 85 || 4th U.S. || Lost Western Conference final
|-
| 2018–19 || 68 || 34 || 28 || 5 || 1 || 214 || 230 || 74 || 4th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2019–20 || 63 || 17 || 40 || 4 || 2 || 157 || 302 || 40 || 5th U.S. || Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
|-
| 2020–21 || 19 || 7 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 47 || 78 || 14 || 5th U.S. || No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| 2021-22 || 68 || 19 || 43 || 6 || 0 || 179 || 306 || 44 || 5th U.S. || Did not qualify
|-
| 2022–23 || 68 || 34 || 26 || 5 || 3 || 256 || 245 || 76 || 3rd U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee
| 2023–24 || 68 || 23 || 42 || 2 || 1 || 206 || 306 || 49 || 6th U.S. || Did not qualify
|-
| 2024–25 || 68 || 32 || 29 || 6 || 1 || 234 || 268 || 71 || 4th U.S. || Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee
| 2025–26 || 68 || 26 || 36 || 5 || 1 || 181 || 252 || 58 || 5th U.S. || Did not qualify
|}
Championship history
- Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: 2007–08
- Conference championships: 2009–10
- Regular season Division titles (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
WHL Championship final
- 2009–10: Loss, 1–4 vs Calgary Hitmen
Players
NHL alumni
Alumni of the Americans who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Scott Gomez was the first former American to win the Stanley Cup.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center
|- style="border-top:#002D62 5px solid; border-bottom:#C41230 5px solid"
!#
!Player
|-
|8
|Brian Sakic
|-bgcolor="eeeeee"
|14
|Stu Barnes / Todd Klassen
|-
|33
|Olaf Kolzig
|}
Awards
CHL awards
<div style="float:left; width:48%;">
David Branch Player of the Year Award
- Brendan Shinnimin: 2011–12
CHL Goaltender of the Year
- Carey Price: 2006–07
- Chet Pickard: 2007–08
</div><div style="float:right; width:48%;">
CHL Top Scorer Award
- Brendan Shinnimin: 2011–12
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
- Jim Hiller: 2011–12
</div>
WHL awards
<div style="float:left; width:48%;">
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
<br /> Player of the year
- Stu Barnes: 1988–89
- Brendan Shinnimin: 2011–12
Del Wilson Trophy
<br /> Goaltender of the year
- Brian Boucher: 1996–97
- Carey Price: 2006–07
- Chet Pickard: 2007–08, 2008–09
Bob Clarke Trophy
<br /> Top Scorer
- Daymond Langkow: 1994–95
- Brendan Shinnimin: 2011–12
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
<br /> Coach of the year
- Don Hay: 1998–99
- Don Nachbaur: 2007–08
- Jim Hiller: 2011–12
</div><div style="float:right; width:48%;">
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
<br /> Humanitarian of the year
- Taylor Procyshen: 2008–09
- Taylor Vickerman: 2014–15
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
<br /> Executive of the year
- Don Hay: 1998–99
- Bob Tory: 2006–07, 2007–08
WHL Plus-Minus Award
<br /> Top plus-minus
- Brendan Shinnimin: 2011–12
- Zach Yuen: 2011–12
</div>
References
External links
- Tri-City Americans website
- Tri-City Herald coverage of Tri-City Americans