Americans, was standing in the Toyota Center watching the Kamloops Blazers
go through a morning skate.
As Tory stood there, he was approached by a man clutching a brown envelope
in one hand. The fan obviously had stopped by the team's office to pick up
his playoff tickets.
"I've been waiting 20 years for this," said the man, whose full beard
suggested he may have been waiting longer than that. "I owe you a lot. You
have no idea how much this means to me."
The fan's eyes actually began to well up as he shook hands with Tory.
The man then dug into one hip pocket and pulled out what obviously is one of
his real treasures — a puck featuring an Americans' logo with the autograph
of former captain Greg Spenrath on it. The puck, it turned out, was from
Spenrath's final game with the Americans in the spring of 1990.
The fan then turned to Tory and said: "I owe you $20 and it's a bet I'm
happy to pay off."
With that, the fan dug into another pocket, pulled out $20 and gave it to
Tory.
Tory, it seems, had bet the season-ticket holder, whose name he couldn't
recall, that the Americans would finish atop the U.S. Division.
As the fan walked away, he looked back and repeated: "That's one bet I don't
mind paying off. I've waited 20 years for this!"
Prior to this season, the Americans, who are in their 20th season here, had
never won even one banner. There are no WHL pennants of any shape or form
hanging from the rafters here. Geez, even the Fever, which plays in some
kind of indoor pro football league, has two championship banners blowing in
the air-conditioned wind currents.
It's no wonder the bearded fan was quick to make that bet with Tory prior to
the season. The fan likely thought it was money in his bank.
But then came March 15. That was the night the Americans beat the visiting
Spokane Chiefs 2-1 to clinch first place in the U.S. Division, first place
in the Western Conference and first place in the WHL's overall standings.
One victory. Three banners. And a fan paying off a bet.
Tory, who has been nominated as the WHL's executive of the year, deserves
all the accolades, too. Because it wasn't that long ago when this franchise
was on life support.
It had gone through owners like Heather Mills goes through lawyers.
After the last bunch, including NHL big-wigs Brian Burke and Glen Sather,
bought an expansion franchise in Chilliwack rather than hang around these
parts any longer, Tory found some local money and brought in two NHLers, Stu
Barnes and Olaf Kolzig, both of them former Americans.
They took control on April 22, 2005. Actually, they took over that day; Tory
is the one who took control.
He is the guy at the wheel. And he has done a bang-up job.
But when your franchise has been on life-support you know how fine the line
is between success and failure.
It's why you even have staff members watching the obits in the local
newspaper.
David Nelson's mother, Pherne, was a fan from Day 1 through her death
earlier this season.
"When she could no longer drive," David wrote in a letter to the Tri-City
Herald, "my wife and I shuttled her to every home game enduring her tales of
'those dirty refs' on the drive home.
"She passed away at the age of 91. I mentioned her hockey enthusiasm in her
obituary and was surprised to receive a signed card of condolences from
Americans' staff and players.
"Prior to her passing, she once said, 'If I should die, and if there's
anything I can do from above to help the Americans have their best season
ever, I will.' "
The Americans organization has worked extremely hard to connect with its
fans, and if one weekend in this area is any indication, it has managed to
find a raucous fan base that really enjoys itself at games.
The effort put in by Tory and Co. is paying off in other ways, too.
As David Nelson closed his letter to The Herald:
"Pherne E. Nelson spoke to me in a dream the other night, saying she wanted
to relay a message to the Tri City Americans and staff. I believe it was:
'You're welcome!' "
Yes, if you're a WHL team having to play the Americans, you should be aware
that there just might be more to their season than meets the eye.
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at
gdrinnan@kamloopsne
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