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KENNEWICK OK, Tri-City Americans fans. The team goes into their playoff series with the Chilliwack Bruins with some good news and some bad news.
Which do you want first?
The good news? Goaltender Drew Owsley is back on the ice and it's business as usual between the pipes for the second-year netminder, who missed nine games with a concussion.
The bad news? Tri-City defenseman Tyler Schmidt was suspended one game by the Western Hockey League for his clipping major and game misconduct Saturday against Spokane's Kyle Beach. The verdict came down Tuesday from league disciplinarian Rick Doerksen.
"One of the reasons there was no rush was because there were no games," said Tri-City general manager Bob Tory. "Rick tries to look at a number of factors and the severity of the injury. He did a real thorough job and it was fair."
Beach, who injured his right knee, was helped off the ice after the hit and made his way out of Toyota Center on crutches after the game. In a Tuesday interview with KREM-TV in Spokane, Beach said he wasn't sure what the extent of damage was, nor when he will be able to play.
But news Wednesday was more encouraging for the 2008 first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks.
"We are hoping he can play Saturday," said Spokane GM Tim Speltz, whose team plays Portland in the first round. "I think the suspension signaled that the injury wasn't as bad as first thought. Kyle has worked really hard this week and so has our therapist. We are hopeful for Saturday."
Having Owsley back in the lineup gives the Americans two weapons in goal to throw at the Bruins -- and they won't know until it's time to turn in the game rosters whom they will face.
"It's good to have two quality goaltenders," Tory said. "It's a better position to be in than having one like a lot of teams do. A big strength of this team is its depth -- a lot of guys have been down this road before."
As winners of the U.S. Division and Western Conference, the Americans get home-ice advantage through the Western Conference finals, should they advance that far.
The Bruins are the eighth seed in the Western Conference, but Tory said Tri-City is not taking them lightly after finishing 1-3 against Chilliwack during the regular season.
"Chilliwack is coming in to win and that's what makes the playoffs so exciting," Tory said. "We will do our thing to be successful."
Notes
The Americans fell out of the top 10 in the final week of the CHL poll. Tri-City, at the top of the honorable mention category, is ranked the equivalent of 11th. The Americans, who were 10th last week, were ranked as high as fourth during the season and were ranked for 20 of the 26 weeks. ... The Prince George Cougars will have the first pick in the April 29 bantam draft, followed by the five other non-playoff teams -- Edmonton, Lethbridge, Seattle, Regina and Prince Albert. Tri-City will pick 19th.
