Wednesday was like Christmas all over again for the Americans.

Goaltender Ty Rimmer was named Western Hockey League goaltender of the month for December, and the Americans earned the No. 1 ranking in this week's Canadian Hockey League poll.

It is the first time Tri-City has been ranked No. 1. The Americans have been ranked No. 2 the last two polls, and they also hit No. 2 during the 2007-08 season.

The Americans, who have been ranked 12 of the poll's 15 weeks, knocked off

the London Knights (27-8-0-1), the Ontario Hockey League team that had held the top spot since Week 3.

Rimmer (18-4-0-0) went 6-0-0-0 in December with a 1.50 goals against average and a .945 save percentage. He allowed just nine goals on 165 shots.