16-year NHL veteran Stu Barnes has high hopes for this young Tri-City Americans team

Stu Barnes came off of the Toyota Center ice on Wednesday, wearing his skates and holding a stick.

At 51, the former 16-year National Hockey League veteran still looks like he could play some pickup hockey.

“I love playing,” he said.

But nowadays, Barnes is busy coaching teenagers and 20-somethings in the Western Hockey League.

The part-owner of the Tri-City Americans is just starting his second year as the team’s head coach, and after a four-game road trip to start the season, the Ams are ready for their home opener on Saturday against the defending WHL-champion Edmonton Oil Kings.

The game starts at 6:05 p.m.

Barnes likes what he sees from this year’s Americans squad.

“I’m excited about this season,” he said. “I know we’re 1-3, but they were all four road games and we were in every game.”

After a split in Prince George two weekends ago (a 5-1 loss to the Cougars, and and 8-3 Ams win), Tri-City lost to Everett and then Portland by identical 4-2 scores.

“We’re working hard. This was a young team last year,” said Barnes. “We’re a year older, and we’re more experienced.”

He said the team’s early season strength is its depth.

“That’s going to help us this year. Guys have really stepped up in the last year,” said Barnes.

On the other end, the head coach would like to see the team to compete for a full 60 minutes.

“The goal is to try to get us to compete hard every night,” he said. “Play both ends of the ice.”

The team has some good experience in the net, with goalies Tomas Suchanek and Nick Avakyan. Those two can help keep games tight.

One thing the Ams need more of is shots on goal. Through the first four games, Tri-City has been outshot by an average score of 43-25.

Still, there is some potential on offense with players like left wing Parker Bell, Czechia rookie center Adam Mechura, and right wing Dwayne Jean Jr. (who scored two goals in Tri-City’s 8-3 win over Prince George).

Team captain Marc Lajoie and second-year player Lukas Dragicevic are expected to lead the defensive unit.

“And some of our guys went to NHL camps recently,” added Barnes. “That’s a good experience.”

Bell (drafted by Calgary), Lajoie (Los Angeles), Mechura (Arizona) and Suchanek (Buffalo) all got looks in NHL camps.

Another player who was expected to play for the Ams this season was left winger Jalen Luypen.

The 20-year-old was acquired by the Americans in an offseason trade with Edmonton. However, Luypen was in NHL camp with the Chicago Blackhawks recently — and was doing well enough that the team signed him to a 3-year entry level contract.

But during camp, Luypen injured a rotator cuff and will be sidelined three to four months.

Barnes once again expects Portland, Seattle and Everett will be tough in the U.S. Division.

“And our games with Spokane always are close,” he said.

Fans get that first up close and personal look Saturday at the Toyota Center, which had new seats installed this past offseason.

Season schedule

October

8 — EDMONTON, 6:05 p.m.; 12 — MEDICINE HAT, 7:05 p.m.; 14 — KAMLOOPS, 7:05 p.m.; 15 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.; 21 — EVERETT, 7:05 p.m.; 22 — PORTLAND, 6:05 p.m.; 29 — at Moose Jaw, 6 p.m.; 30 — at Regina, 3 p.m.

November

1 — at Prince Albert, 6 p.m.; 2 — at Saskatoon, 6 p.m.; 4 — at Brandon, 5 p.m.; 5 — at Winnipeg, 6:05 p.m.; 11 — EVERETT, 7:05 p.m.; 12 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.; 18 — CALGARY, 7:05 p.m.; 19 — at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.; 23 — KAMLOOPS, 7:05 p.m.; 26 — SPOKANE, 6:05 p.m.; 27 — SEATTLE, 4:05 p.m.

December

2 — LETHBRIDGE, 7:05 p.m.; 3 — KELOWNA, 6:05 p.m.; 9 — PRINCE GEORGE, 7:05 p.m.; 10 — PRINCE GEORGE, 6:05 p.m.; 14 — at Everett, 7:05 p.m.; 16 — at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.; 17 — at Victoria, 6:05 p.m.; 27 — EVERETT, 7:05 p.m.; 28 — at Portland, 7 p.m.; 30 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.; 31 — SPOKANE, 6:05 p.m.

January

6 — VANCOUVER, 7:05 p.m.; 7 — VICTORIA, 6:05 p.m.; 14 — at Everett, 6:05 p.m.; 15 — at Vancouver, 4 p.m.; 18 — VICTORIA, 7:05 p.m.; 20 — at Kamloops, 7 p.m.; 21 — at Kamloops, 7 p.m.; 27 — EVERETT, 7:05 p.m.; 28 — SPOKANE, 6:05 p.m.; 29 — at Everett, 4:05 p.m.

February

1 — SWIFT CURRENT, 7:05 p.m.; 3 — PORTLAND, 7 p.m.; 4 — at Portland, 6 p.m.; 5 — at Vancouver, 4 p.m.; 10 — PORTLAND, 7:05 p.m.; 11 — RED DEER, 6:05 p.m.; 14 — at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.; 17 — SEATTLE, 7:05 p.m.; 18 — SPOKANE, 6:05 p.m.; 20 — at Kelowna, 2:05 p.m.; 22 — EVERETT, 7:05 p.m.; 24 — at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.; 25 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

March

3 — SEATTLE, 7:05 p.m.; 4 — at Portland, 6 p.m.; 5 — at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.; 10 — at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.; 11 — PORTLAND, 6:05 p.m.; 12 — KELOWNA, 4:05 p.m.; 17 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.; 18 — SPOKANE, 6:05 p.m.; 19 — VANCOUVER, 4:05 p.m.; 24 — SPOKANE, 7:05 p.m.; 25 — at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.