2014-15 Tri-City Americans profiles
Coach
Mike Williamson
Age: 41.
Hometown: Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
Coaching experience: Williamson has coached 888 WHL games with a overall record of 427-374-36-20 with 31 ties. He also has 105 playoff games to his credit with a 54-51 record. ... Spent 71⁄2 years as coach of the Portland Winterhawks (1999-2007), where he posted a 217-247-33 record with 31 ties. ... Spent 5 years as coach of the Calgary Hitmen, posting 4 winning seasons with an overall record of 210-127-23. During the 2010 playoffs — Williamson’s first season in Calgary — the Hitmen defeated the Americans for the WHL title and advanced to the Memorial Cup.
Did you know: He played for the Winterhawks from 1991-94 and registered 10 goals and 41 assists in 204 games. He was named captain for the 1993-94 season. ... In 2011, he coached Team Canada to a fourth-place finish at the U18 World Junior Championship in Germany.
Goalies
Nathan Alalouf
Age: 18.
Hometown: Delta, British Columbia.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 187.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: An unlisted camp invitee.
Last season: In 15 games with the Osoyoos Coyotes, he had 9 shutouts with a 3.19 goals against average. In one game with the Saskatoon Blades, gave up 2 goals in 9 minutes of play and took the loss.
Did you know?: He was originally listed by the Saskatoon Blades in 2012 after going undrafted in the WHL bantam draft. Made his WHL debut against Prince George on Jan. 29 and allowed 2 goals on 8 shots.
Eric Comrie
Age: 19.
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 170.
NHL draft: Taken in the 2nd round (59th overall) of the 2013 draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
How acquired: 2010 bantam draft (1st round, 13th overall).
Last season: He posted a 26-25-4-5 record with 4 shutouts, a 2.57 GAA and a .925 save percentage. He broke Aaron Baker’s single-season save record with 1,849. Baker had 1,825 saves during the 1997-98 season. He also took part in the Canada-Russia Subway Series and was invited to Team Canada’s World Junior camp, but did not make the team.
Did you know?: He spent just as much time on the ice during the spring and summer as he did off. He joined the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps, at the end of last season, and in June attended Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence goaltending camp in Calgary. He also attended Team Canada’s World Junior development camp and the Jets’ development camp.
Evan Sarthou
Age: 17.
Hometown: Black Diamond.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 170.
NHL draft: Eligible 2016.
How acquired: 2012 bantam draft (3rd round, 65th overall).
Last season: In 16 games, he was 3-8-0-1 with a 4.07 GAA and an .890 save percentage.
Did you know?: Was named to the United States U-18 Select Team that competed at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup from Aug. 11-16 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia. Team USA brought home a bronze medal. In 4 games, Sarthou posted a 3-1 record, played 210 minutes, faced 136 shots and allowed 19 goals while making 117 saves.
Defensemen
Brandon Carlo
Age: 18.
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 195.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2011 bantam draft (10th round, 214th overall).
Last season: In his rookie season, played 71 games with 3 goals, 10 assists and 66 penalty minutes. He played in all 5 playoff games, notching 1 assist and 8 PIMs.
Did you know?: He survived the initial cuts for the United States at its World Junior Hockey Championships evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., in August. ... Was named to the CCM/USA Hockey All-Americans Prospects Game set for Sept. 25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
Dylan Coghlan
Age: 16.
Hometown: Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 180.
NHL draft: Eligible 2016.
How acquired: 2013 bantam draft (3rd round, 63rd overall).
Last season: In 39 games with the North Island Silvertips AAA, he had 3 goals, 18 assists and 52 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: His older brother Ryan Coghlan, also a defenseman, plays for the Prince Albert Raiders.
Justin Hamonic
Age: 20.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 215.
NHL draft: Free agent.
How acquired: 2009 bantam draft (5th round, 102nd overall).
Last season: For the second year in a row, played all 72 games, scoring 1 goal with 14 assists and 46 penalty minutes. In 5 playoffs games, had 1 goal.
Did you know?: He wore the captain’s letter for 22 games last year after Mitch Topping broke his arm. He was named team captain this season. ... Won the veteran fitness test for the third year in a row. ... Played in World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2011) for Team Western, which went 2-3 and placed fifth.
Riley Hillis
Age: 18.
Hometown: Arvada, Colo.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 200.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed in June 2012; signed Aug. 31, 2012.
Last season: Played in 43 games in his rookie campaign. He had one assist, 86 penalty minutes and a team-high 11 fights.
Did you know?: He and Brandon Carlo have played on the same team since they were 12 years old. ... His dad, Lance, a forward, played hockey at Northern Arizona University (1985-86).
Brendan O’Reilly
Age: 17.
Hometown: Southlake, Texas.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 185.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: An unlisted camp invitee in 2013, signed Aug. 28, 2013.
Last season: With the Dallas Stars U16, had 8 goals, 22 assists and 52 penalty minutes in 41 games. When the Americans were short on defensemen, he came in after Christmas and played 5 games.
Did you know?: His dad, Jim, played hockey in high school in St. Louis, but played water polo in college at Loyola University in Chicago. He tried out for the U.S. Olympic water polo team after college but did not make the cut.
Kurtis Rutledge
Age: 17.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 191.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2012 bantam draft (8th round, 163rd overall).
Last season: In 23 games with the Calgary Flames AAA, he had 3 assists and 12 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: He was selected to the Team Pacific U-17 Top-40 camp during the summer.
Josh Thrower
Age: 18.
Hometown: North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 206.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: In a trade with the Calgary Hitmen on Jan. 9 for forward Connor Rankin.
Last season: In 34 games with Calgary, had 2 goals, 4 assists and 43 penalty minutes. In 28 games with Tri-City, had no points and 46 PIMs.
Did you know?: Bypassed in June’s NHL draft, he was invited to camp by Vancouver Canucks, his hometown team. ... His older brother Dalton Thrower was team captain for the Vancouver Giants last season.
Parker Wotherspoon
Age: 17.
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 170.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2012 bantam draft (1st round, 21st overall).
Last season: In 62 games, had 2 goals, 16 assists and 74 penalty minutes. Was named the Americans’ rookie of the year.
Did you know?: Played 6 games with 3 assists for Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Team Pacific lost the championship game to the United States 4-0. ... Is listed on the NHL’s Central Scouting Futures list for the 2015 NHL draft. ... Was invited to Team Canada’s summer U-18 selection camp but did not make the roster for the U-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. ... His older brother Tyler played 4 seasons for the Portland Winterhawks and is with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
Forwards
Zach Andrusiak
Age: 16.
Hometown: Armstrong, British Columbia.
Height: 5-10.
Weight: 180.
NHL draft: Eligible 2016.
How acquired: Listed in December 2013; signed April 8.
Last season: In 66 games with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, he finished second in goals scored (36) and points (88).
Did you know?: His uncle, Perry Andrusiak, was an assistant coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds (1995-96) under head Don Nachbaur. ... His dad, Vince, coached NHL stars Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins) when he played for the Melville Millionaires (1998-99), and Tanner Glass (Pittsburgh Penguins) when he played for the Yorkton Mallers (2000-01).
Parker Bowles
Age: 19.
Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 165.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed in March 2011; signed Feb. 8, 2012.
Last season: In 39 games, had 15 goals and 25 assists. Tied for second in team scoring with 40 points.
Did you know?: Offseason shoulder surgery sidelined him for the first 17 games last season. After playing 11 games, he suffered a knee injury and missed 16 more games. ... Despite limited playing time, caught the attention of the Toronto Maple Leafs and was invited to their rookie camp.
Ty Comrie
Age: 17.
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 163.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2012 3rd-round WHL draft pick (61st overall).
Last season: In 64 games, scored 3 goals with 6 assists and 21 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: For the second year in a row, led the team in preseason scoring (7 assists). ... Along with Parker Wotherspoon, played for Team Pacific at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. He played all six games but did not register any points. Team Pacific lost the championship game to the United States 4-0. ... First WHL fight was Jan. 11 vs. Everett’s Noah Juulsen — let’s call it a draw.
Justin Gutierrez
Age: 19.
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 200.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed in May 2011; signed Aug. 30, 2011.
Last season: In 70 games, had 3 goals, 18 assists and a team-high 103 penalty minutes, including 9 fights. Was suspended 2 games for a fight at Victoria on Oct. 6.
Did you know?: After being passed over in June’s NHL draft, was invited to the St. Louis Blues rookie camp. Played in the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich. ... Played high school hockey with his brother Trevor. They led South Anchorage High to a Class 4A state title in 2011. ... His older brother Moises Gutierrez played in the WHL for Kamloops and Everett.
Maxwell James
Age: 17.
Hometown: Kamloops, British Columbia.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 200.
NHL draft: 2015.
How acquired: 2012 6th-round WHL draft pick (131st overall).
Last season: In 44 game with the Kamloops Storm (Jr. B), had 22 goals, 23 assists and 100 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: Played in the 2012 BC Cup with Jordan Topping. Their team, the Canucks, placed third.
Semyon Krasheninnikov
Age: 17.
Hometown: Ufa, Russia.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 180.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2014 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft (18th overall).
Last season: Had 3 goals and 3 assists in 24 games for Moscow CSKA Red Army of the MHL. In 21 playoff games, he had 3 goals and 1 assist while helping guide Red Army to the league finals.
Did you know?: He wears No. 71 in honor of his favorite player, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vladislav Lukin
Age: 17.
Hometown: Ufa, Russia.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 187.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 2014 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft (78th overall).
Last season: Had 19 goals, 34 assists and 28 penalty minutes in 32 games for Salavat Yulaev of Group A of the Russian Championship.
Did you know?: He asked to wear No. 21 because that was the number he wore back home.
Devon McAndrews
Age: 19.
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 210.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Picked up his rights from Medicine Hat in October 2012 in exchange for a conditional 6th-round pick in the 2014 WHL bantam draft.
Last season: Had 2 assists and 27 penalty minutes for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League before joining Tri-City. In 52 games with the Americans, had 3 goals, 5 assists and 53 PIMs.
Did you know?: Scored his first WHL goal Nov. 2 at Lethbridge. He also had 2 assists in the game. ... His dad, Stewart, played linebacker at the University of Alberta and one season with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos (1983).
Beau McCue
Age: 19.
Hometown: Kennewick.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 200.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed October 2010; signed March 1, 2012.
Last season: In 72 games, had 20 goals and 20 assists. Along with Parker Bowles, was the second-leading scorer on the team.
Did you know?: He and Taylor Vickerman represented the Tri-City Americans in the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo Grand Parade on Aug. 16. ... He now calls Kennewick home after his family moved to the Tri-Cities from Colorado. His mom, Sharon, teaches sign language at Southridge and Kamiakin, while his dad, Gene, teaches health and P.E. at Chiawana.
Lucas Nickles
Age: 20.
Hometown: Salmon Arm, British Columbia.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 180.
NHL draft: Free agent.
How acquired: Listed in July 2009; signed in February 2011.
Last season: Played all 72 games, scoring 17 goals (4 shorthanded) with 19 assists and 47 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: Recorded his first WHL point March 20, 2011, against Seattle, assisting on a Drydn Dow first-period goal. ... If he didn’t play hockey, he’d play basketball. He played point guard in school. ... His dad, Jim Nickles, was Mr. Canada (bodybuilding) in the heavyweight division in 1992.
Austyn Playfair
Age: 17.
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 216.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed October 2012, signed Aug. 26, 2013.
Last season: In 33 games for the Phoenix Coyotes U-16, he had 8 goals, 9 assists and 29 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: His dad, Jim, is an associate coach for the Arizona Coyotes and former head coach of the Calgary Flames. Jim, a defenseman, played 21⁄2 seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks.
Jackson Playfair
Age: 20.
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 215.
NHL draft: Free agent.
How acquired: From Spokane in exchange for forward Marcus Messier on Jan. 10.
Last season: Had 4 goals and 2 assists in 40 games with the Spokane Chiefs; had 4 assists in 30 games for Americans after trade from Spokane.
Did you know: A free agent, he got an invite to the Arizona Coyotes’ rookie camp. ... His uncle Larry Playfair played for Kamloops and Portland in the WHL, and played 688 career games in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings, amassing 1,814 PIMs.
Braden Purtill
Age: 17.
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 195.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 3rd round of the 2012 bantam draft (46th overall).
Last season: In 63 games, contributed 9 goals and 5 assists.
Did you know?: Changed his number from 29 to 17. ... When the defense was plagued with injuries last year, he stepped back to the blue line to help out. He played forward and defense during the preseason. ... Played for Team West at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. In 5 games, he had no points. ... Played for Team Manitoba in the 2012 Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup, losing the bronze medal game to Team Saskatchewan.
Rodney Southam
Age: 18.
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Height: 5-11.
Weight: 183.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: Listed, then signed with the team Oct. 15, 2012.
Last season: In 52 games, had 5 goals, 3 assists and 37 penalty minutes.
Did you know?: Was originally drafted by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2011 WHL bantam draft (6th round, 131st overall). ... Earned the Spirit Award for the Saskatoon Contacts (AAA Midget) for the 2012-13 season, an honor previously won by Taylor Leier (Portland Winterhawks) in 2009-10 and Kohl Bauml (Everett Silvertips) in 2010-11.
Jordan Topping
Age: 17.
Hometown: Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 200.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 8th round of the 2012 bantam draft (175th overall).
Last season: Had 10 goals and 5 assists in 51 games for Cowichan Valley Jr. A of the BCHL.
Did you know?: From the time he was 8 until he joined the Americans, he took a 30-minute ferry ride to Vancouver Island for hockey practice and games because Saltpring Island does not have a hockey rink. ... His younger brother Kyle was drafted by the Kelowna Rockets in May’s WHL draft (11th round, 226 overall). ... His dad, Derek, played for the Merritt Centennials and Victoria Warriors, and coaches the Cowichan Valley Capitals major bantam club.
Taylor Vickerman
Age: 18.
Hometown: Kennewick.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 205.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: In a trade with the Vancouver Giants on Aug. 22, 2013, for a 2015 2nd-round bantam draft pick.
Last season: In his 1st year with his hometown team, had 3 goals and 6 assists in an injury riddled season.
Did you know?: Last year, he got hurt in the 3rd game of the season against Portland, suffering a shoulder injury, and missed 25 games. He returned to the ice Nov. 29 and played 27 games before a knee injury Feb. 15 derailed the rest of his season. He missed all 8 preseason games, but is available for the home opener after being cleared for full contact Sept. 12. ... He has two adopted sisters from China — Hayleigh, 9, and Maylynn, 7. ... He is just the 2nd Mid-Columbia player to earn a spot on the Americans’ roster. Defenseman Justin Togiai (2001-03) of Kennewick was the first.
Brian Williams
Age: 19.
Hometown: Claremont, Calif.
Height: 5-8.
Weight: 174.
NHL draft: Eligible 2015.
How acquired: 8th round of the 2010 bantam draft (173rd overall).
Last season: Was one of four players to play all 72 games, and led the team in scoring with 36 goals (11 on the power play) and 20 assists. In 5 playoff games, had 3 goals and 2 assists.
Did you know?: He was the first native Californian drafted by Tri-City in the bantam draft since Jason Beeman (2001, 2nd round, 24th overall). ... Was a soccer player before he discovered hockey. This summer, he joined an adult indoor soccer league just for fun.
This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 6:28 PM with the headline "2014-15 Tri-City Americans profiles."