It's Finally Here!!

Happy Home Opener Day!!!

This will be first time in several years where the Americans will not be raising any banners on opening night, which sucks.  But veterans Adam Hughesman and Mason Wilgosh reflect on their past 4 seasons as Americans (warning, you'll tear up a little bit):

Work ethic. Team work. Accountability on and off the ice.

Mason Wilgosh and Adam Hughesman learned from Day One as a Tri-City American that those qualities will help you be a better person, a better hockey player and help your team succeed.

"Give (Don Nachbaur) credit for that," Wilgosh said of his former coach. "It all starts with work ethic. The team has to have it, and Donnie instilled that in us. I learned that at 16. It sticks with you. You don't forget it -- you don't want to forget it."

[...]

Every time you win one, it's just as exciting," Wilgosh said. "It's something you work for. The WHL Finals was a great experience. It's hard to describe when we lost (in five games to the Calgary Hitmen) and how badly that sucked. We didn't win anything last year, but we still had a good season. Hopefully we can carry that into this year."

As their final season begins, Wilgosh and Hughesman are the veterans, being looked upon to pass on their knowledge.

"It doesn't come easy," Wilgosh said. "You have to work for everything you get. You get what you earn. I bring my work ethic and energy every shift to try and shut down the other guy. I will score the odd goal. It's all part of my job."

One Hughesman can appreciate.

"Fans see it every night -- big hits, his leadership and a guy opposing teams hate to play against," Hughesman said. "He's very versatile. First line, third line, he can play on any of them. That's why he's so valuable."

While Wilgosh brings the grit, Hughesman brings the glamour. He was on pace to score 50 goals and 100 points last season before a knee injury derailed the latter part of his season. He still finished with 39 goals and 81 points.

"He brings a knack around the net," Wilgosh said. "He keeps his head up and makes plays. Just the way he can control the game with a puck and a stick -- and an occasional big hit -- you have to appreciate that."

[...]

"We talked about it this summer," Hughesman said, adding in fellow Winnipegger Shinnimin. "We know we may not all be here until the end, and we are OK with that. We will respect Bob's decision.

"It has been a great ride, and I've enjoyed my time here," Hughesman continued. "We have always been successful. I don't think my junior career could have been in a better place." (Herald)

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So no Matt MacKenzie or Brendan Shinnimin tonight.  Both are with AHL teams but without contracts at this point.  Makes it all still up in the air as far as them returning to Tri.  If they do sign and stick in the AHL a.)great for them b.)it'll hurt the Ams but not as bad as some think, in my opinion anyways.  

If there's no Shinny and no Big Mac, that means keeping Willy and Suds (potentially, Bob could still trade either for other 20s).  Is Wilgosh going to be able to put up the goals that Shinny could?  Hell no, but like the Herald says, his work ethic is second to none, and he can create room for Hughesman, Malte, Rankin, Williams, etc. to pot some goals.  

With Sutherland, I think he's more than capable.  He showed last year that he's improved.  He's solid and reliable.  I haven't yet seen a sexy slapper from the blue line like Matt can do, but maybe he's worked on that this summer in anticipation of having to be that veteran defenceman.

I'm not as worried about the defense as I was a couple weeks ago.  At all.  Even if they're without Matt.  Suds is good, Dow's improved and is playing fantastic, Yuen and Grist are back and I have confidence in both of them.  Mitch Topping has played great, he'll do well.  That leaves Guenther and Hamonic.  Neither has been outstanding, neither has been terrible, but they're young--gotta develop sometime.