WHL US Division: Tri-City Americans announce training camp dates

The Tri-City Americans have announced dates for their annual rookie and main training camps.

The rookies will convene on August 27 and be split into two teams, where they will battle each other through practices, defensive sessions and goaltender sessions for three days. The rookie camp culminates with the annual Blue-White game on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Main training camp begins the next day as the rookies who've been chosen to stick around will mix it up with the veterans hungry to get the rust off from summer. As always, all sessions in both camps are free and open to the public. Camp rosters will be released the week of August 24.

Rookie Camp schedule

9:00am to 10:15 am - Practice (Team Red)
10:30am to 11:45am - Practice (Team Grey)
5:30pm to 6:30pm - Defense Session
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Scrimmage (Red vs. Grey)

9:00am to 10:15 am - Practice (Team Grey)
10:30am to 11:45am - Practice (Team Red)
4:30pm to 5:30pm - Forwards/Goaltenders Session (Team Grey)
5:45pm to 6:45pm - Forwards/Goaltenders Session (Team Red)
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Scrimmage (Red vs. Grey)

9:00am to 10:15 am - Power Skating (Team Red)
10:30am to 11:45am - Power Skating (Team Grey)
5:30pm to 6:30pm - Goaltenders Session
7:00pm to 9:00pm - Scrimmage (Red vs. Grey)

9:00am - Blue vs. White Game (New teams selected)

Main Camp schedule

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - Practice (Team White)
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Practice (Team Blue)
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Goaltenders Session
7:00 p.m. - Scrimmage (Blue vs. White)

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - Practice (Team Blue)
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Practice (Team White)
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Goaltenders Session
7:00 p.m. - Scrimmage (Blue vs. White)

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - Practice (Team White)
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Practice (Team Blue)
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Goaltenders Session
7:00 p.m. - Scrimmage (Blue vs. White)

The Americans will then depart for Everett's annual preseason classic, which takes place September 4-6, before hosting their own preseason tournament the following weekend. Both tournaments feature all five U.S. Division squads, and the writers from Seattle Sin Bin will have it covered from all angles.

The preseason wraps up with a home-and-home match-up with the arch rival Spokane Chiefs, before the real fun begins with the regular-season opener in Spokane on Sept. 26.

We'll have updates from both camps and a season preview for the Americans in the coming weeks. Also be on the lookout as our WHL U.S. Division experts will preview their teams make picks for division and playoff champions.

Other notes out of Kennewick: Former Tri-City American defenseman and captain Justin Hamonic signed a contract with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL for the 2015-16 season. Hamonic, a fan favorite who played his entire WHL career in Kennewick, completed his fourth season with the Americans in 2014-15 and finished his career with 255 games played. The Rampage are an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.....The Hockey Writers released a poll that listed former Americans goalie Eric Comrie as the seventh-ranked goaltending prospect heading into the 2015-16 season. Comrie was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round in 2013 and is expected to play this season with the Jets' new AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.....Finnish defenseman Juuso Valimaki captained his country to a fourth-place finish in the recent Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Valimaki was selected by the Americans with the 14th overall pick in June's CHL Import Draft and has made his intentions clear he will play this season in Kennewick. Valimaki scored his lone point of the tournament on a goal in the third-place defeat to Russia. He is expected to bolster an already impressive Americans defensive core.