By Tri-City Americans
KENNEWICK, WA – The Western Hockey League released its 2012-13 regular-season schedule today and the Tri-City Americans will open their 25th season in the Mid-Columbia at home – the fifth consecutive home start – versus Spokane on Saturday, Sept. 22.
Tri-City opens the season with 11 of its first 17 games on the road, during which time the team sees their longest road trip of the season – an eight game trip that includes their swing through the East Division – from Oct. 7 to Oct. 26. The Americans' heaviest home month will be in November (eight games), while October is the most road heavy (10 games). October and January each feature a season-high 13 games. The club will also take a nine-day hiatus from Dec. 19-27 as the League takes its annual Winter Break.
The Americans will again play all other 21 teams in the WHL at least once in 2012-13. In division play, the Americans will go head-to-head with the Spokane Chiefs 12 times (six home and six away), including 6 match-ups after the Winter Break. Tri-City will also play the Seattle Thunderbirds and the defending Western Conference Champion Portland Winterhawks nine times while facing off against the Everett Silvertips 10 times. Tri-City will again play their B.C. Division counterparts (Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Vancouver and Victoria) four times each.
The 2012-13 schedule has Tri-City hosting all six Central Division opponents, including a match-up with the 2011-12 WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Lethbridge Hurricanes (Oct. 5), Red Deer Rebels (Nov. 3), Medicine Hat Tigers (Jan. 25) and Calgary Hitmen (Feb. 12) will also visit the Toyota Center this season.
The Americans will play 10 of their final 17 games at home and close out the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, March 16 vs. Spokane. The team then wraps up the 2012-13 campaign on the road, playing at the Comcast Arena in Everett on March 17.
Home Schedule Highlights:
- 27 home games scheduled for Friday-Saturday-Sunday
- 17 games before and 19 games following the Winter Break
- 24th Annual New Year's Eve game on Monday, December 31 vs. Spokane Chiefs
Game Times:
Monday - Saturday: 7:05 PM
Sundays: 5:05 PM
Schedule Notes:
- The division rival Spokane Chiefs visit: Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 23, Dec. 31, Feb. 16, Mar. 16
- Western Conference Finals Re-match with Portland: Sept. 23, Dec. 9, Dec. 28, Jan. 26, Feb. 26
- Former Tri-City goaltender, Ty Rimmer and the Lethbridge Hurricanes visit: Oct. 5
- Four three-games-in-three-nights weekends, Three prior to the Winter Break
- Longest home stand: Eight games (Nov. 2 thru Nov. 23)
- Longest road trip: Eight games (Oct. 7 thru Oct. 26)
