Monday, Apr. 28, 2008

Kolzig returns to Tri-Cities

By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer

Impressed.

That's the word Olie Kolzig used after watching Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Saturday between the Tri-City Americans and Spokane Chiefs.

"That last game was Game 7 of an NHL playoff series," said Kolzig, a principal owner of the Americans along with Stu Barnes of the Dallas Stars. "It was awesome. Their strongest characteristic is their resiliency. They found a way to get the lead when they were down and a way to get back in the game to go to overtime.

"I thought the game had too many penalties and that ruined the pace of the game," he said.

A goaltender with the Washington Capitals, Kolzig will be in town during the remainder of the Spokane series. He said he and Barnes didn't know what to expect of their team this season, but are pleased with the results.

"Stu and I couldn't be prouder of what they have accomplished," said Kolzig, whose Capitals were eliminated from the NHL playoffs last week by the Philadelphia Flyers. "We didn't know what to expect after losing a kid like (goaltender) Carey Price, but Bob (Tory) had made some good deals and Don (coach Nachbaur) is pushing the right buttons."

Kolzig arrived in the Tri-Cities late Saturday afternoon, watched the game and met with Nachbaur and assistant coach Terry Virtue, but did not address the team.

"I don't want to be a distraction, I just want to be supportive," Kolzig said.

Game 6 of the Western Conference finals is tonight in Spokane, with Game 7, if necessary, back at Toyota Center on Tuesday.

"For the last month, our team has been playing Game 7," Kolzig said. "I don't see why we can't be back here for Game 7 on Tuesday. From what I've seen, it will come down to who has the best goaltender."

The Americans have a gem in Chet Pickard, who won 46 games during the regular season and is 10-2-2 in the playoffs.

"Forty-six wins is phenomenal, no matter who is in front of him," Kolzig said.

Kolzig was fortunate to find a seat Saturday night with a soldout crowd. He said it reminiscent of his first year when the Americans came to the Tri-Cities.

"The atmosphere last night was how it was in 1988," Kolzig said. "We want to rekindle what we had then. We want to make ourselves known as a respectable franchise and the boys have had a big part in that."

Kolzig also would like to enhance the rivalry with Spokane.

"We need to establish something like the Apple Cup," Kolzig said. "Add a little history to the rivalry. Both crowds last night were awesome. I'd like to see that continue."

Today, Kolzig is meeting with members from the Rypien Foundation in Spokane in an effort to help one another with their charities.

Mark Rypien, a former Washington Redskins quarterback, has a foundation that works with childhood cancer, while Kolzig's efforts center around autism. During the regular season, they had a side wager on Tri-Cities-Spokane games with an auction item donated to the other for each loss by their respective teams.

Rypien is on the hook for seven items, while Kolzig must pony up five.

For the Western Conference finals, the stakes went way up, but Kolzig denied to reveal the wager.

"We'll announce that at a later date," Kolzig said.