KENNEWICK, Wash. -- On Saturday, the Tri-City Americans clinched a playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference.
Now the Ams have their sites on a bigger goal - clinching the number one seed and home ice. Right now Tri-City is in second place in the conference behind the Kamloops Blazers, who they play Wednesday night. The Ams say home ice throughout the playoffs would be huge.
"Every team in our division and conference is really still in a playoff fight. Whether it's for the top spot, the fifth spot or the eighth spot every team is going a little bit harder," said Jim Hiller, Americans head coach.
"It's huge. It gives your team the best chance at winning the championship. Obviously you get home ice advantage, especially if you're first and depending on whether or not you're ahead of the team out east it could be home ice advantage throughout the whole playoffs. So it's extremely huge," said Brendan Shinnimin, Americans forward.
