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Some may think four days is not enough time to make a solid evaluation of your team, but with 15 returning players from last season, Tri-City Americans coach Jim Hiller said it didn't take long to get the roots back in the ground.
"We had a pretty good sense early because we return so many players," said Hiller, who led the Americans to their third straight U.S. Division title and first Western Conference title last season. "It was more an evaluation if they got bigger, stronger, more consistent and more confident. We got a good look at the guys who didn't play a lot last year and the new guys. They are all good players."
Hiller will get a better look at the whole package this weekend with three games at the Everett Tournament, starting at 3 p.m. today against Spokane and former coach Don Nachbaur.
"Half the guys on our team played for Don," Hiller said. "That will be interesting and exciting for the guys. But once we drop the puck, they'll be happy to beat him. The (main) camp was short, but now we get a chance to play someone in different colors. I expect through the weekend we will see some more aggressive play than we have during practice."
Saturday, the Americans will play the Everett Silvertips at 7 p.m., and they finish the weekend with a 3 p.m. game Sunday against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from the Ontario Hockey League.
"That will be interesting," Hiller said. "There is a respect among teams across the CHL, but there is a rivalry between the leagues when it comes to the Memorial Cup. It will be good to see what they have and how we measure up."
Hiller is confident his veterans can be competitive with any team, but he's also got a strong sense that rookie forward Connor Rankin can be lumped into the group.
"He is a good player," Hiller said the Americans' top bantam pick in 2009. "It's difficult to play in this league at 16, but he is a special player. He has the right qualities and he's pretty mature physically and mentally for his age. He plays beyond his years. You never want to set the bar too high for a rookie, but he will play with good players and he won't be asked to be the difference maker."
Also making an impression this week are defensemen Sam Grist, 17, and Spencer Humphries, 18.
The 6-2, 200-pound Humphries started the season with the Americans last year before being sent down to Junior A to get more ice time and more experience.
Grist, at 6-4, 200 pounds, brings a size to the blue the Americans haven't seen since the likes of Clayton Stoner (2002-05).
"It's a different look with Humphs and Sam back there," Hiller said. "A little different element than we had last year and they move pretty good for big guys. Spencer has been playing well and playing with confidence, which is something he struggled with last year. Sam has a got a real presence for a young guy. He will be a force in this league."
Going camping: The Americans have a record number of players (seven) headed to NHL camps later this month, led by goalie Alex Pechurskiy, who will attend Pittsburgh's main camp starting Sept. 16.
Humphries will attend the San Jose camp, while Justin Feser and Jordan Messier are off to Columbus. Patrick Holland will go to Calgary, Brooks Macek is headed to Detroit and Brendan Shinnimin will attend the New York Rangers camp. All will leave Sept. 9.
Pechurskiy was a fifth-round pick in 2008 by the Penguins, while Macek was a sixth-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2010 draft, and Holland a 2010 seventh-round pick of the Flames.
Signings: The Americans signed three of their top prospects to standard WHL player contracts Thursday. Leading the group is forward Gage Rapitta, 16, who still is fighting for a roster spot. Also signing were defenseman Justin Hamonic and forward Dylan Fluter.
