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Ams not content with quick start
This story was published Wednesday, October 11th, 2006

By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer

It took a dusty trip through the archives to reveal that the Tri-City Americans have never been off to a better start through the first six games of a season.

At 5-1-0-0 and on a five-game win streak, the Americans are pleased with their start, but coach Don Nachbaur is not about to put the cart before the horse.

"I think we have worked hard and improved in a lot of areas, but we can't be content," Nachbaur said. "Collectively as a group, we haven't played 60 minutes. We have things to work on to be a good team."

Since the Americans opened their first Western Hockey League season in 1988 (a 2-4 start), they have had two starts of 4-1-1 (1989-90 and 1999-2000), one at 3-2-1 (1998-99) and five seasons when they began 3-3.

Tri-Cities lost its first game this season to the Kootenay Ice 7-3, but since it has won five straight and will try and make it six tonight when it play host to Seattle (1-2-0-2).

"It was a close game last time; it went to a shootout," said Seattle coach Rob Sumner, whose team dropped a 4-3 game to Tri-Cities last week. "We will go in and try to play our best game. When you go up against a team that has had success, you can't take them lightly. We haven't won enough to take anyone lightly."

Goaltender Carey Price, in his fourth season with the Americans, said it has been fun to come to the rink the last couple of weeks.

"It's nice to get off to a better start than last year," said Price, who is 3-0 in as many games. "We were 4-11, and it was hard to get up for practice. We aren't going to start taking things lightly. Other teams are going to get better and we have to get better, as well."

New players added to the team through trades and free agency have added scoring, speed and leadership.

"We are scoring a lot more goals and I'm keeping them out," Price said. "I knew Yellow (Colton Yellow Horn) would make an impact on our hockey team."

Yellow Horn has three goals and six points this season, including two game-winning goals. Erik Felde leads the Americans with five goals and eight points, while Taylor Procyshen has four goals and six points.

"There are areas we have been good in, but we still need to develop consistency within the lines," Nachbaur said. "It's still early, and you are going to have up and down days."

With Price in net and Chet Pickard backing up the 2005 first-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, Nachbaur can concentrate on developing the offense.

"Carey's the best in the league. He gives us confidence that any time we step on the ice we have a chance to win," Nachbaur said. "You can't ask for any more than that from a player."