Game day, birfdays, huzzah!!

Happy Birthday Cody Castro!



Happy (a day late) Birthday Brendan Shinnimin!!



Happy Birthday Johnny Lazo!! (I don't know what's up with the stained glass look or the pandas, I just Google searched Blue Jays cake)

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Prince George is in town tonight, including former American Spencer Asuchak. Poor PG has only won 4 of it's last 10 (which is actually an improvement) but hasn't won in Kennewick in years. I feel bad for them, but not bad enough for them to want to win.

The Herald's game-day article starts with a little blurb about how awesome Brooks Macek has been this season (which is what I've been saying all along):

Brooks Macek makes things happen.

The second-year forward for the Tri-City Americans has 13 goals this season and is second on the team in scoring with 50 points. When you do the math, it comes out to 37 assists -- tied for third-best in the Western Hockey League.

"Assists have to do with who you play with," said Macek, who skates with Jordan Messier and Kruise Reddick. "They are just as good as a goal."

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has more than twice as many points as he had last season as a rookie, when he had eight goals and 16 assists.

"I had a year to adjust to the league, and I know what to expect," Macek said. "(Coach) Jim (Hiller) has faith in me on the power play and that helps. It's a lot more fun than being a rookie and not getting as much time. Everyone here is a pretty good player, and it's easy to gel with each other."

Macek's line has produced 39 goals this season for the U.S. Division-leading Americans (29-10-0-1, 59 points), who will try to add to their lead this weekend with three games, starting tonight against the visiting Prince George Cougars (9-30-1-1, 20 points). (Herald)

I'm just hoping to just be able to get to the game and home again as the weather seems to pay attention to the game schedule and keep screwing with me--snow and freezing rain predicted this evening. Fantastic.

If you missed it (you probably did, I understand) Kelowna Rockets play-by-play/blogger Regan Bartel did a great interview with AMS play-by-play guy Craig West. You can check it out here, it's good stuff.