KENNEWICK -- When the Tri-City Americans open their season tonight, all eyes will be on goaltender Drew Owsley.
After posting the fourth-best regular-season record for wins in team history last year in leading the Americans to their third consecutive U.S. Division title, their first Western Conference title and a spot in the Western Hockey League finals, Owsley returns for his second season as a starter, looking to prove last year was no fluke.
"I knew I had it in me," Owsley said of last season, when he posted a 33-11-1-1 record with a sterling .918 save percentage, a 2.51 goals against average and four shutouts. "But I did surprise myself at the start with the great record we had."
Tri-City plays host to former coach Don Nachbaur and the Spokane Chiefs tonight and will entertain the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday. Owsley will get the start tonight.
"I'm excited for another home opener," said Owsley, who has won the last two -- both against Kelowna. "It's a fresh start to the season and I think the whole team is excited to get things going. It is a little weird seeing Don over there in Spokane colors."
Americans general manager Bob Tory said he knew Owsley had the potential to be a starter in the WHL.
"He had a lot of success at the midget AAA level in Lethbridge, and goaltending history tends to repeat itself," Tory said. "When you scout goalies, you look for guys who win. It's almost more important than goals against or save percentage. This is not a developmental position -- in goal there is no place to hide. You either succeed or fail."
Owsley chose to succeed.
In his first season in the league, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Owsley shared the back-up role with Brett Martyniuk behind Chet Pickard, who owns the top two team records for wins -- 46 in 2007-08 and 35 in 2008-09.
When the start of the last season rolled around and Pickard was gone, Owsley and Martyniuk were left to man the goal. The Americans still were awaiting word on Russian goalie Alex Pechurskiy, but until he arrived after Christmas, Owsley held down the fort.
By the holiday break, the Americans were 26-9-0-0 and Owsley was 25-8-0-0, playing all but 154 minutes.
"There's an uncertainty until you see what they can do, but we couldn't get Brett in the lineup, and that's a credit to Drew," Tory said. "Not only did he have a good season, but an outstanding playoffs. He didn't have a problem until we ran into Calgary."
After Pechurskiy arrived, the Americans traded Martyniuk, and Owsley began sharing time in goal.
"Alex has pushed me, and I've pushed him, which is good for both of us." said Owsley, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta. "The competition is good for both of us. Everyone needs a night off, but I want to be out there as much as I can. That's what all the hard work and long hours in the summer are for."
Owsley was rewarded for his hard work in the playoffs, earning the starting nod over Pechurskiy. He backed the Americans to series wins over Chilliwack, Kelowna and Vancouver and was named Western Conference playoffs MVP, setting a team record for goals against average in the playoffs at .921.
"The playoffs were fun," Owsley said. "After every win, I got more confidence, and the team got more confidence. The Chilliwack series was tough. It was a good experience for me and the team and I think gave all of us confidence as we moved on."
The Americans took out Kelowna in five games and Vancouver in six, then ran into Calgary in the WHL finals. The Hitmen won the series in five games and advanced to the Memorial Cup.
"They were a good team," Owsley said of Calgary. "I think we were overwhelmed. We had never played on a stage like that in front of 15,000 people. I don't think we played our best -- me or the team."
Through 17 games, Owsley had been the Cinderella story of the playoffs. He was a listed player. He had appeared in just 17 games the year before, and he was by far the smallest goaltender in the playoffs.
Against Calgary, the glass slipper shattered.
In Game 1, he allowed four goals in the first 10:52 of the first period and was replaced by Pechurskiy. The Americans lost 7-0.
Owsley started Game 2, but the goals kept coming and Pechurskiy took over in the second period of a 4-1 loss.
Back at home, Pechurskiy earned the start in Game 3 -- another 4-1 loss.
The Americans won Game 4 at home with Pechurskiy in goal, but the Hitmen finished off Pechurskiy and the Americans in Game 5 in Calgary.
"Everything had been going our way up until then," Owsley said. "I felt I let the team down, but I didn't want to carry that around all summer. I tried to keep it here and not take it home with me."
Now, he's ready to start anew.
"I think we have great leadership and a good attitude," Owsley said. "We have the right people and the experience to do it again, but this time we want to win the last series and go to the Memorial Cup."
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; afowler@tricityherald.com
