Broncos Host Ams

Well, this should be interesting.


The Broncos host the Tri-City Americans tonight at the Civic Center as they begin an east division road swing that will seem them take on the entire division over 10 days.


Carey Price (pictured left), will likely get the start in goal. He didn't play against the Broncos last season because of injury. He faced the Broncos once over his career. It was the 04/05 season when the Broncos picked up a 4-2 win in Kennewick, WA. Price, a 1st round pick of the Montreal Canadiens has become virtually a household name ever since leading Canada to a World Junior gold medal in Sweden. He will be one of our guests in the pre-game show on the Eagle 94.1 FM.


It's unlikely Colton Yellowhorn (left) will play against the Broncos tonight. Yellowhorn is tied with Reid Jorgensen of Kamloops for the most goals in the WHL with 39. He's suffering from a leg injury and didn't practice yesterday when the Ams took to the Civic Center ice. He's on the trip and is listed as day-to-day.

The Americans bolstered their blueline at the WHL trade deadline by acquiring the rights to Russian Roman Tesliuk from Kamloops. Tesliuk was playing pro hockey in the East Coast Hockey League before coming back to the WHL.


Also at the deadline, defenseman T.J. Fast left American college hockey to join the Ams. The former Camrose Kodiak of the AJHL.


The Americans are a staggering 21-7 against teams outside the tough U.S. division. It appears they are locked in 2nd spot behind Everett and ahead of Seattle and Spokane who continue to jockey for position.


The last time the Ams beat the Broncos was November 29th, 2002. They blasted Swift Current 8-2 that night in Kennewick. Since then the Broncos have recorded two wins and a tie in the last three seasons.

The Broncos will be without Phil Gervais (Team Alberta) and Geordie Wudrick (Team B.C.) who will attend the Canada Winter Games in the Yukon. They have recalled 16 year-old Justin Dowling for the game. Defenseman Eric Doyle is also expected back after missing three games with an upper-body injury.


Former Bronco sniper Jeremy Williams has been suspended three games by the American Hockey League. The suspension follows a knee-on-knee hit in a game against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Williams has served two games and will miss the Marlies next game against the Manitoba Moose.

We're on the air at 7pm with the pre-game show. We will take a closer look at the Western Women's Hockey League doubleheader this weekend in the city between the Calgary Oval Extreme and the Saskatchewan Prairie Ice. Play-by-play with myself and Ryan Switzer ( http://www.ryanswitzer.blogspot.com/ ) at 7:30pm.

I'll post a game recap before the team heads off to Brandon tomorrow afternoon.

See you at the game,
Jon