NBCRightNow.com - The Americans and Chiefs announce the 2013 first round playoff schedule. Here is the press release and schedule from the Americans.
KENNEWICK,
WA – With three games
left in the 2012-13 regular season, the Tri-City Americans have guaranteed
themselves an First Round playoff match-up against their U.S. Division rivals,
the Spokane Chiefs, in the 2013 WHL Playoffs. The 12-game regular season
series, which will wrap-up with a home-and-home doubleheader this weekend, is
currently knotted at five wins apiece.
While final seeding
for the post-season will come down to the last weekend of the regular season,
and the two teams in a tight race for the #4 and #5 seeds, the clubs have
finalized the first six games of the series regardless of who finishes with the
#4 seed and home-ice advantage. Due to the Spokane Arena hosting the first two
rounds of the 2013 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in two weeks, Games 1 and
2 will be played in Spokane, while Games 3, 4 and potentially 5 will be played
at the Toyota Center. If necessary, Game 6 will return the Spokane Arena and,
whichever team finishes with the #4 seed will host the potential Game 7 on
Wednesday, April 3rd.
"Due to the city and
Spokane Arena hosting the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, our availability
for dates was limited," explained Chiefs' General Manager, Tim Speltz. "We
appreciate the Americans' cooperation and flexibility in scheduling the dates to
give us the opportunity to play in our building when we have it available to
us."
Speltz continued by
saying that, "the NCAA Tournaments are fantastic events for our Arena and the
City of Spokane. The Chiefs, the Spokane Arena and our fans thank Bob Tory and
his organization for being a good league partner."
Tory added that, "Due
to the situation of Spokane's building availability, we were forced to become
creative in finding solutions that met the needs of both teams. With limited
dates, and the cooperation of Tim Speltz and the Spokane Chiefs, we were able to
come up with a solution that works well for both franchises considering the
circumstances."
The Chiefs and
Americans meet in the post-season for a third consecutive season, with both
teams earning a series win against their arch rivals in the Western Conference
Semi-Finals the last two years. Tri-City advanced to the Conference Finals last
year after knocking off the Spokane in Game 7 in Kennewick. Meanwhile, in 2011,
the Chiefs moved on to the Conference Finals after ousting the Americans 4 games
to 2. It will mark the 4th time in the last 6 years that the long-time rivals
will meet in the post-season and the seventh all-time playoff meeting between
the clubs, but will be the first time since 2002 that they will face-off in the
First Round.
Fans are encouraged
to check the Americans' website, www.amshockey.com, in the coming days
for further playoff information. 8-Game and 16-Game Playoff packages are on
sale now through the Americans' offices by calling (509) 736-0606 or by stopping
by the Toyota Center. Single game tickets will on sale starting tomorrow,
Thursday, March 14 at 11:00 AM through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the
Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer outlets, or online at
ticketmaster.com.
2013 WHL Playoffs –
Western Conference Quarter-Finals
Game
1: Friday, March 22,
Tri-City Americans at Spokane Chiefs, 7:05 p.m. at Veterans Memorial
Arena
Game
2: Saturday, March 23,
Tri-City Americans at Spokane Chiefs, 7:05 p.m. at Veterans Memorial
Arena
Game
3: Tuesday, March 26,
Spokane Chiefs at Tri-City Americans, 7:05 p.m. at Toyota
Center
Game
4: Thursday, March 28,
Spokane Chiefs at Tri-City Americans, 7:05 p.m. at Toyota
Center
Game
5: Saturday, March 30,
Spokane Chiefs at Tri-City Americans, 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center *If
necessary
Game
6: Tuesday, April 2,
Tri-City Americans at Spokane Chiefs, 7:05 p.m. at Veterans Memorial
Arena *If necessary
Game
7: Wednesday, April 3,
TBD *If necessary
