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HAF
03-22-2006, 07:01 PM
Ams cap season with attendance increase, jersey
This story was published Tuesday, March 21st, 2006

By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer

The 2005-06 season has been a successful one for the Tri-City Americans.

Attendance showed an increase of 17.71 percent over last season, second only to Moose Jaw, and had an increase of 580 fans per games, the highest in the Western Hockey League.

Throw those numbers in with a playoff berth and the unveiling of a third jersey on Monday and things are just peachy at Toyota Center.

"There was not one governor - well maybe one - who wasn't supportive of our efforts at the league meeting last week," said Americans general manager Bob Tory. "The attendance has been fantastic and has created a lot of energy in the building."

That one governor likely would be Chilliwack's Darryl Porter, who, along with partners Glen Sather and Brian Burke, sold the Americans to Olie Kolzig, Stu Barnes, Dennis Loman and Tory, after stating the Tri-Cities was not supportive of the hockey team.

The Americans welcomed 138,863 fans over the course of 36 home games this season, their best attendance numbers since the 1996-97 season when Brent Ashcroft led the team with 94 points.

Tri-Cities will begin its best-of-7 first-round playoff series with Everett on Friday at the Everett Events Center.

"There is no love lost between the two teams," said Tory, who announced the team's playoff slogan is Today's dreams are tomorrow's reality. "Our goal is to go in and steal both games. Our team will be rested, prepared and ready to go."

Tickets for the first two home playoff games, set for March 28-29, go on sale today.

What won't be ready for the playoffs is the Americans' third jersey, created and designed with the help of Reebok.

The new jersey, modeled by long-time hockey fan Jimmy Butcher of Kennewick, will be worn on opening night of the 2006-07 season and during all Saturday night home games.

"It's an exciting bold look," Tory said. "It's something the fans have been asking for for a long time."

The team is taking orders for the jerseys. They cost $99 for adult sizes and $85 for youth.

Notes: The Medicine Hat Tigers won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular-season champions for the first time since the 1985-86 season and only the second time in franchise history. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 47-16-1-8 record and 103 points. ... Moose Jaw Warriors right winger Troy Brouwer won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's top scorer. Brouwer had 49 goals and 102 points. ... The Calgary Hitmen, who finished second in the Central Division, will start their playoff series with Lethbridge on the road in a 2-3-1-1 format. The Hitmen have been displaced because of the World Figure Skating Championships at the Pengrowth Saddledome. ... The Kamloops Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's 25-year history.

Redwic
03-22-2006, 07:25 PM
I did not realize how much attendance had climbed this season.

Great job, Americans fans and organization. :thumb:

Take that, Porter! :laugh:

kaniksu
03-22-2006, 09:58 PM
I only managed to make it to two games this season but I definitely noticed a lot more people in the building. Screw Porter! :dead:

mattsfan
03-23-2006, 08:19 AM
and that was for a below .500, 4th place team. Although this team was pretty exciting to watch, imagine what attendance would be like if they won the division. Put up wins, they will come....