History Tri-City Americans

original logo, used 1988/89-1990/91.



logo 2003/04-2007/08, secondary logo.

the tri-city americans franchise original franchise of whl. began in 1966 calgary buffaloes before being renamed centennials after 1 season. franchise known billings bighorns 1977–82 before relocating nanaimo, british columbia nanaimo islanders. after 1 season, moved new westminster, british columbia become second incarnation of new westminster bruins. moved tri-cities in 1988.

the americans enjoyed local support until 2000, start of 4 owners in 4 years, wanting relocate team canada. between selling off team assets , 1 owner banning local newspaper columnist attending games, attendance dropped considerably. lack of banners in barn didn t matters either. although ownership group represented darryl porter had stated upon purchasing team create local presence (the oft-heard criticism of ownerships groups), mr. porter had still not moved tri-cities in 3rd year of ownership. in 2004, porter attempted move team chilliwack, british columbia in canada. however, other western hockey league teams voted prevent move, including 4 other american teams 2 canadian teams. shortly after failure, team sold tri-cities natives, including olaf kolzig, former goalie washington capitals, , stu barnes of dallas stars, both former americans players. since sale team has doubled attendance figures , won first division championship in team history. porter , investment group later granted chilliwack bruins expansion franchise.

on november 29, 1989 americans goaltender olaf kolzig became first goalie register whl goal when shot on empty net against seattle thunderbirds.

the americans annual series highway 395 rival spokane chiefs intense , full of action, biggest rival year in , year out. competitiveness of 2 team such annual tradition americans play chiefs @ home on new year s eve. time tradition broken due one-day strike americans on training tactics of 1 of coaches.

in 2002–03 season, sixteen-year-old goaltender shannon szabados became first female player compete in whl when played 1 game americans. in 2010 szabados won gold in women s ice hockey @ 2010 winter olympics playing canada.

during 2007–08 whl season, americans won division regular season championship first time after march 15, 2008 showdown division rival spokane chiefs in kennewick, washington @ toyota center. americans won western conference regular season championship, , scotty munro memorial trophy best overall regular season record in whl. 2009–10 season marked third straight year americans won division.

at annual new year s eve game against spokane chiefs on december 31, 2008, americans set record attendance @ hockey game in toyota center, 6,042 attendees. americans surpassed number on march 13, 2010, in game against spokane, attendance of 6,053.

the americans won western conference championship first time in 2010 playoffs defeating chilliwack bruins, kelowna rockets , vancouver giants in successive series before dropping league championship calgary hitmen in 5 games.