Tri-City Americans Trade Defenseman Derek Ryckman to Medicine Hat

In another pre-season move, the Tri-City Americans traded standout defenseman Derek Ryckman to the Medicine Hat Tigers.In the 60 games he appeared for the Americans in the 2011-12 season, he was a plus-20, which is a high on-ice rating. He chipped in three goals, 12 points, and 101 penalty minutes. While it was difficult to trade Ryckman, General Manager Bob Tory said the team is facing what he called "an over-age problem." It was necessary to make the move because WHL rules say teams can only keep three "overages," or 20-year olds, on their permanent season-long roster. The Americans have a number of 20 year-olds coming into this season.

This move will allow the native of Red Deer, Alberta to stay in the WHL for his final season. He was originally drafted in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, then picked up last season by the Americans. Ryckman will now know he can play this season. Otherwise, if he were one of the overages the Americans must let go, there would be no guarantee he'd be picked up by another team.

The Americans currently have five overages on their roster. One is Patrick Holland who will start this season in the training camp of the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs in late September.