Goalie Gamble in Tri-City

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"Everyone told us that we couldn't win with a 16-year-old goalie and all he did was take us to the Memorial Cup."

That is a quote from Tri-City Americans GM Bob Tory from his September 3rd appearance on our show. On paper, the Americans are arguably as deep as any other team in the WHL and may have the best trio of overage players as well. But after trading away both 20-year-old starter Drew Owsley and solid prospect Chris Driedger, Tory is taking a huge risk putting most of his eggs in the very young basket of Eric Comrie.

Then again, Tory is no stranger to this scenario and it's paid off pretty well for him in the past.

Saturday Morning Special - Sept 3

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Not to steal screen time away from our ongoing "Rookie Watch" series but we had a show this morning and as always, we like to offer up a bit of a recap for those that missed it live. A retired NHL enforcer, a WHL GM, the new head scout for Phoenix, a writer from The Hockey News and our QMJHL prognosticator made up the guest list for today.

Gardiner Leaves Gophers for Tri City? [Updated]

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Max Gardiner has left the University of Minnesota after just one season because of a lack of playing time. That according quotes from Gophers head coach Don Lucia in an ESPN story here.

The St. Louis Blues 3rd rounder has 3 options available to him hockey wise: He can turn pro which won't happen. He can play in the USHL after being recently drafted by Dubuque, that story is here. Or he can head to the WHL and suit up for the Tri City Americans who listed him in the fall of 2009.

UPDATE: Guy spoke with Americans GM Bob Tory minutes ago and he offered several comments.

WHL Notes:Chilliwack to Victoria, Some Nervous Coaches & Jaden Schwartz rumours

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At Rexall Place tonight for game 3 between Red Deer and Edmonton there were more then 23 NHL scouts/G.M's representing 12 different NHL teams as well as various scouting agency's and WHL personell. Needless to say it was a good place to pick up some information, and here are some things that were passed our way tonight.

Is the WHL moving back to the Island?

Jim Mullin reported recently that the Chilliwack Bruins were fielding offers from a group in Victoria, and could be on the move. TPS received an email tonight stating that a deal was done. We reached out to different people in the league to try and find out more, and received several 'no comments' but noone flat out said it wasn't happening. Another source passed on that if Chilliwack does move to the Island, then Prince George might have an interest in shuffling off to Chilliwack. A well placed source told us the league very much wants to have two more clubs in the Western Conference to make it an even dozen just like the east. Nanaimo has also been long rumoured as a possible destination.

Tory Signs Extension With Tri-City

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The Tri-City Americans have announced a 4-year extension for General Manager Bob Tory. Tory has been at the helm of the Americans for the last decade and the team has been successful and competitive under his guidance.

Outdoor Game Coming, Tri Hires Associate Coach

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We've talked about an outdoor game in the WHL for a while now, you can read about it here and here. WHL commish Ron Robison told us they tried to have a game during last year's World Junior Championship but it just didn't come together in time. TELUS field in Edmonton has been talked about as a possible site as well, but now it appears that the Hitmen and Regina Pats will hit the great outdoors, in Calgary when the Flames and Montreal do the same in the NHL. More details when they become available.

Also, you might have read this (or you might have read it a few hours or days later at another WHL blog) about how Scott Beattie was in the lead to replace Terry Virtue as associate coach in Tri City. Well the Americans have made our prediction come true, and you can read about it here.

One last item for now, word is Jim Hiller was not only in contention for an assistant coaching job with Atlanta in the NHL, but was also talking to Norfolk of the AHL. Tri City G.M. Bob Tory, has told someone close to TPS that Hiller is indeed staying with the Americans, but didn't deny that he was up for the job. Our excellent, time-tested and reliable sources told us that. A good journalist never reveals a source, some veterans should know that.

Coaches To Consider: Calgary & Tri City

Calgary and Tri City have coaching positions still available. The 7th and 8th that have come open this year. Swift Current, Prince George, Everett, Chilliwack, Regina and Lethbridge filled their spots.

So who's up for the final 2 spots? Here's a few names to consider.

The Calgary Hitmen might be zoning in on John Van Boxmeer. The one time first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens didn't have the greatest playing career but has been a head coach several times since retiring. He was the bench boss for the Rochester Americans of the AHL as well as the Long Beach Ice Dogs. He as the assistant with Buffalo and LA in the NHL, and was recently coaching in Switzerland. He reportedly suffered a heart attack in 2008 but word is recovered fully and might be a target for Hitmen G.M. Kelly Kisio to replace Dave Lowry who joined the Flames as an assistant.

Tri City lost Don Nachbaur to the AHL's Binghamton Senators and I'm told G.M. Bob Tory wants to fill Nachbaur's shoes very quickly. In Nachbaur's 6 seasons the Americans went to the playoffs each year and won 2 division titles so whoever replaces him will have a streak to keep up. Tory will have no shortage of interested candidates. Here are the names I'm hearing floating around the coaches waiting room. Mike Williamson spent 13 seasons with the Portland Winterhawks, the last 8 as the head coach. He was let go in 2007 and launched a civil law suit against the Hawks for breach of contract. I'm not sure if that plays into him getting a future job or now.

John Becanic put up a .500 record in 2 seasons with Everett before being let go this year and being replaced by Craig Hartsburg, Becanic like most coaches is hoping to get back in the game as soon as possible.

Drew Schoneck is hoping to swap one Tri City for another. He's currently the head coach and G.M. for the Tri City Storm of the USHL, but a return to the Americans is probably what he's really looking for. Schoneck was an assistant with the Am's in 2001 and I'm told his wife is from the area, making it an even more attractive option. Schoneck was the head coach with Prince George, but apparently wasn't happy in the city.

Greg Gatto is a wildcard, but the first former player to coach Lethbridge in the CIS.

Another one now from the school ranks, but south of the border now. John Hill has spent the last 4 years as an Assistant to Don Lucia with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Before that he was the head coach in Alaska with the Sea Wolves. In fact Hill has spent his entire career behind the bench with NCAA schools, but might be ready to take on junior hockey up north.

Finally, Mike Vandenberghe's name is starting to pop up when I've talked to people. And the former coach of the Notre Dame Hounds might have an interesting bargaining chip. Vandenberghe coached Jaden Schwartz in Wilcox and Tri City has been trying to convince Schwartz to join the Americans rather than the Colorado College Tigers of the NCAA, where he's committed for the 2010 season. Schwartz lit up the SJHL with 76 points in 46 games this year and was very good for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose last year. If Vandenberge could deliver Schwartz to Tri City it might be worth a coaching position.