Tri-City Americans ready to see what they have for 2017-18

After two weeks of scrimmages and instruction, the Tri-City Americans are ready to put their skills to the test.

The Americans will play three games at the Everett Preseason Classic, starting Friday with a 7 p.m. game against the host Silvertips. Tri-City also will play Portland at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and Vancouver at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

“I’m really excited to get things going,” Americans coach Mike Williamson said. “They put in a lot of work in the offseason. Our returning guys have worked really hard and have been good role models for the younger players. We have gotten a lot accomplished here.

“It will be good to get out there against another team and not just be running against each other. We have a long way to go. We are still evaluating. We will get a chance to get these three games to see where guys are at. A bunch of our guys will be gone after this weekend for NHL camps, and that will give us more time to evaluate others guys.”

Team captain Michael Rasmussen, a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings in June, was enjoying a low-key day at Toyota Center on Thursday. He will head to Detroit’s training camp next week.

“It’s good to be back with the guys and get camp going,” he said. “I think we have a good core group of players back. We have good leadership and good players. We are ready to get things going. I haven’t put that jersey on for a while. When you do, it’s something special.”

The Americans still have about 30 players in camp, leaving Williamson and the rest of the Tri-City staff with some hard decisions to make.

“We do have a lot of returning guys, but it is a very, very competitive camp,” Williamson said. “Guys are really going to have to perform well and push to make the team and see where they will fit in.”

One player who has impressed is 18-year-old forward Isaac Johnson of Andover, Minn.

Johnson played last season for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL, where he had 14 goals and 14 assists in 47 games. He has also represented Team USA at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, and at the World Junior Hockey Challenge, where he won a gold medal.

“He has had a good camp,” Williamson said. “Bob (Tory) and Barclay (Parneta) have been watching him for some time. He was here a couple of years ago for camp, and he made the decision to join us this year. He came a couple of weeks early to get on the ice, came in in great shape, and has some good results on the ice during camp. For him, it will be taking his game to another level. He has fit in well and we are happy with what he has done so far.”

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Johnson is excited to step on the ice Friday night, but he’s also a little hesitant.

“I’m a little nervous, but the guys are treating me well, which helps,” he said.

While college was an option for Johnson, he said the Western Hockey League was a better one.

“It has been worth it,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to school for another four years. I like the hockey here, and we are going to have a really good team.”

Battle in net

Even with Evan Sarthou’s retirement last week, the Americans still have two solid options in the crease — Beck Warm, who shared time in goal with Sarthou last year; 20-year-old Patrick Dea, who played the past three seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Talyn Boyko, 15, is too young to stay.

“I didn’t really see it coming,” Williamson said of Sarthou’s departure. “But at the same time, I’m not entirely surprised. He is a good young man who wants to get on with the next chapter of his life. I think it was a difficult decision for him, but we are confident the guys who are here. Beck and Patrick have been good at camp, but things will pick up as we move forward. The exhibition games should give us a better idea. Both have played well at our camp.”

Overage logjam

Dea is one of five overage players in camp, with the others being forwards Jordan Topping, Max James and Vladislav Lukin, and defenseman Brendan O’Reilly.

Each WHL team is allowed three overage players.

“I sure wish we could fudge some birth certificates and find a way for them all to be here,” Williamson said. “The positive thing is we will have three good players and incredible leaders. It will be a difficult decision, but as we move forward, it will be based on their play and the team’s needs.”

Going camping

Seven Tri-City players will head to NHL camps next week.

Rasmussen will be joined in Detroit by Johnson, while Juuso Välimäki will be in Calgary, Morgan Geekie with the Carolina Hurricanes, Kyle Olson at the Anaheim Ducks camp, Dylan Coghlan at the Las Vegas Golden Knights camp, and Topping with the Ottawa Senators.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Tri-City Americans ready to see what they have for 2017-18."