FINALLY It's game day

You guys, we're gonna see real live hockey again!!

The Calgary Hitmen are in town tonight, last time the Americans saw them was in the WHL finals.  I don't know about you, but I'm betting it's going to be a good game.

"They ended our season last year in a hurry," said Tri-City captain Kruise Reddick, who is questionable for tonight after suffering a concussion Oct. 8 against Brandon. "A lot of guys in the room have a bitter taste in their mouth. We want to erase that. We want to come out and take it to them. We need to come out strong. They are a good team and they will play us tough."

"We are ready to be home," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "It was quite a trip, starting in Spokane and going as far east as Brandon. We made it through the adversity and I liked how we finished much better than how we started."

"We are starting to see what we have with the new players and what they bring," Hiller said. "The veterans are becoming more comfortable, some struggled a bit a out of the gate. Zak (Stebner)brings something that is hard to find and that is experience on the blue line. He's a right-handed shot and plays on the power play and penalty kill. He plays an important role on the power play. It helps balance out the minutes and in the end will make everyone better." (Herald)

Speaking of Stebner, Rene Ferran featured him the other day in his "Meet the Ams" series:

He already has one ally in the dressing room in captain Kruise Reddick, a former teammate of Stebner's in midget hockey.

"It's exciting to have a chance to have another playoff run," Stebner said. "This is a good group of guys, and they're a good team this year."

Must-see TV: "Seinfeld." "Hands down. I grew up watching it. And add 'Jersey Shore' for the guys in there (pointing to the dressing room). We all watch it." (Examiner)

Also part of the "Meet the Ams" feature, Ferran talked with Tanner Olstad:

How would Olstad describe his game?

"Gritty," he said. "I like to make plays out there, make sure I'm working hard and doing the little things right. It's about just moving your feet, trying to make things happen. People see that, and it forces them to bring you down."

Favorite hockey moment: Olstad was going to go with his fight against Seattle's Austin Baecker in the second game of the season, but he changed his mind. "My shootout winner in the Alberta Cup in 2007. I was playing for the Calgary Northstars 15-year-olds (Bantam AAA)."(Examiner)

I haven't yet received any entries in the "Welcome Back Wilgosh" or "Welcome Back Prokop" poster contest.  Willy may be back tonight so that would be the deadline, if you got a poster made, email me a picture of it (or find me at the game to show me) to be entered into the contest.  You can win a 2011 Heritage Classic t-shirt.