Tri-City Americans

As a hockey blogger that has ties to the Pacific Northwest, it is, for better or for worse, my duty to talk about hockey and non-hockey teams based in that region.  As you know, most of the talk is Portland-centered, which means anything Winterhawks, Timbers, or Trailblazers is fair game.  Since the Pacific Northwest includes the state of Washington, all things Mariners, Seahawks, and yes, the Canucks (yes, I know they are in British Columbia) is also fair game.

Having said all of that, today's spotlight is on the team from the town of Kennewick, WA known as the Tri-City Americans.  Kennewick is a town in the southern part of Washington, and is located approximately 20 miles from the Washington/Oregon border.  (Wikipedia alert: most of what follows is taken from this site, so if anyone with better knowledge about the Tri-City Americans is reading this, step forward) The history of the Americans dates back to 1988, but the team itself has a history that goes even further.  In 1966, they began play in the WHL as the Calgary Buffaloes for a season before changing their name to the Centennials.  From 1977 until 1982, the team played under the Billings Bighorns name.  A season as the Nanaimo Islanders followed before the team moved to New Westminster to become the Bruins.  In 1988, the team became what is currently known as the Tri-City Americans.

Players who came through Kennewick  on their way to the NHL include Stu Barnes, Olaf Kolzig, Carey Price, and Sheldon Souray.