The Tri-City Americans, winding down towards the end of a lengthy 11-games away from home, look to rebound from Friday's four goal loss at Regina, with a rare matinee contest in Brandon Sunday against the East Division Wheat Kings.
Tri-City enters Sunday's contest with a record of 10-5-0-0 and currently sits fourth in the U.S. Division, 6 points behind first place Everett. The Americans are led by Captain Nolan Yaremko, who has tallied 11 goals and a team best 15 assists for 26 points. He is tied for the team goal scoring lead with Parker AuCoin, who scored the Ams lone goal in the Friday night loss to the Pats. Goaltender Beck Warm leads the team defensively, appearing in 14 of 15 games so far this season, with 9 wins, a 2.91 goals against average and a .909 saves percentage. Kyle Olson tops the team with 27 penalty minutes. Yaremko's 11 goals include a team-best 5 power play markers.
Brandon's offense is paced by Stelio Mattheos. His 17 goals are tied with former American Brett Leason, now with Prince Albert, for the league goal scoring lead. His 14 assists give him a team-high 31 points. Mattheos also leads the Wheat Kings in power play goals with 9 and penalty minutes, with 26. Jiri Patera has been the work horse in goal, appearing in 15 of 18 games, compiling a 2.85 goals against average and an .917 saves percentage.
In special teams, Brandon ranks 7th on the power play, scoring 19 times in 75 opportunities, a rate of 25.3%, while allowing just one short handed goal. On the penalty kill, the Wheaties rank just 21st at 68.1%, killing just 49 of 72 short handed situations. They have, however, scored 3 short handed goals. Tri-City is 17th in the WHL at 20.3%, 14-for 69, having yet to allow a short handed goal. On the penalty kill, the Americans rank 12th, with 50 kills in 65 situations, 76.9%. They have yet to pick up a short handed goal.
The teams have met just three times in the past five seasons. Tri-City has a record of 2-1-0, while Brandon is 1-1-1. Last season, a Jordan Topping power play goal 2:49 into overtime propelled the Americans to a 4-3 win at the Toyota Center, in the only contest between the two teams.
Game time Sunday at Westoba Place in Brandon is set for 12:30pm PST. The live game broadcast, with Craig West calling the play-by-play, can be heard on Newstalk 870 KFLD and online at newstalk870.am beginning with the Gesa Credit Union warm-up show at 12:15pm PST. After Sunday, the Americans play at Moose Jaw on Tuesday the 13th, Swift Current Wednesday the 14th, Prince Albert Friday the 16th and Saskatoon Saturday the 17th, finally returning home to face Kamloops on Friday, November 23rd and Calgary Saturday, November 24th. Brandon's next action after Sunday against Tri-City, is a home contest on Friday the 16th versus Medicine Hat.
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