Americans and Hitmen Swap Sutherland and MacMaster

KENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the team has acquired 19-year-old forward Nathan MacMaster from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 20-year-old defenseman, Brock Sutherland.

Today’s trade brings Tri-City’s roster down to three overage players, Adam Hughesman, Mason Wilgosh and Brendan Shinnimin.  The Americans’ roster currently sits at 25 players, including 16 forwards, 7 defensemen and 2 goaltenders.

MacMaster, listed at 5’10 179 pounds, is moving to his third WHL team in his fourth full season.  Originally a second round (41st overall) selection by the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2007, MacMaster has appeared in 190 career games while totaling 14 goals, 49 points and 115 penalty minutes.  The Calgary, Alberta native, who is coming off a career-best 10-goal, 30-point season in 2010-11, was part of a five-player deal between the Warriors and Hitmen, that saw MacMaster, Danny Gayle and Brandon Glover move to Calgary in exchange for Cody Beach and current Americans forward, Mackenzie Royer.  MacMaster was also a teammate of Americans’ forward Justin Feser at the 2009 U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring one goal and helping guide Team Pacific to a silver medal.

“The overage situation presents many challenges,” explained Tory.  “We wanted to put our extra player into a good situation and also get an asset in return.”

Tory continued by saying that “acquiring another forward increases the competition for spots on our club this year.  Nathan is an experienced player who possesses good speed and skill set.”

Meanwhile, Sutherland, who was dealt to Tri-City as a 17-year-old from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, wraps up a solid career in an Americans’ sweater.  A 6’2 205-pound defenseman from Brandon, Manitoba, Sutherland arrived in Tri-City as part of a November 2008 package deal that also brought Mitch Fadden and Cam Stevens to the Americans in exchange for Eric Mestery and Drew Hoff.  Sutherland went on to play 167 of his total 186 WHL games with Tri-City, totaling seven goals, 40 points, 155 penalty minutes and a plus-22 rating.  Sutherland also departs having played in 39 playoff games with the Americans, ranking him tied for 8th all-time.
 
“We wish Brock all the best in Calgary,” Tory said.  “He has developed into a very good, reliable defenseman in this League and it is sad to see him leave our team and family.”

Tri-City returns to the ice tomorrow, Friday, October 7 when they host the Kelowna Rockets (3-0-0-0) in the second half of a home-and-home doubleheader. Game time is 7:05 pm at the Toyota Center. The Americans will be looking to not only snap their three-game skid vs. the Rockets, but will also be looking to improve to 3-0 at home to start a sixth consecutive season.  Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including online at ticketmaster.com, the Toyota Center box office, or all Fred Meyer outlets.  The game will also be broadcast live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.