TRI-CITY STORM HOCKEY

TRI-CITY STORM HOCKEY
Viaero Event Center - 609 Platte Road - Kearney, NE 68845
Jared Shafran, Director of Media Relations | [email protected] | (308) 338-8809 ext. 108
USHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Sioux Falls Stampede vs. Tri-City Storm
Tri-City vs. Omaha (TC Wins 3-0)
Tuesday, April 14
Thursday, April 16
Saturday, April 18
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 1: Friday, April 24 • Kearney, NE
TC, 2-1
TC, 3-2
TC, 3-1
Team Comparison (Regular Season)
Sioux Falls
Tri-City
3.37 (6th)
GF/G
3.18 (9th)
GA/G
3.02 (8th)
2.63 (1st)
25.1% (2nd)
PP%
14.6% (14th)
80.2% (10th)
PK%
84.3% (3rd)
Sioux City vs. Sioux Falls (SF Wins 3-2)
Tuesday, April 14
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Sunday, April 19
Tuesday, April 21
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
SF, 5-1
SC, 4-2
SF, 4-1
SC, 2-1
SF, 6-1
Youngstown vs. Muskegon (MUS Wins 3-1)
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
Monday, April 20
MUS, 5-4 OT
YNG, 4-2
MUS, 2-1 OT
MUS, 4-2
Cedar Rapids vs. Dubuque (DBQ Wins 3-0)
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Tuesday, April 14
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
DBQ, 6-3
DBQ, 5-1
DBQ, 2-1
Tri-City vs. Sioux Falls
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Friday, April 24
Saturday, April 25
Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2
Tuesday, May 5
7:30 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Dubuque vs. Muskegon
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Friday, April 24
Saturday, April 25
Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2
Tuesday, May 5
7:35 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
STORM TEAM LEADERS
Playoffs
Goals
Game-Winning Goals
Mason Appleton, 2
Conner Valesano, 2
Dan Labosky, 2
Chris Wilkie, 1
Kevin Kerr, 1
Mason Appleton, 1
Conner Valesano, 1
Dan Labosky, 1
Assists
Power Play Goals
Bobby Nardella, 3
Chris Wilkie, 2
Eight Tied, 1
Chris Wilkie, 1
Mason Appleton, 1
Plus-Minus
Power Play Assists
Bobby Nardella, +4
Kevin Kerr, +4
Five Tied, +2
Bobby Nardella, 2
Mason Appleton, 1
Chris Wilkie, 1
PIM
Shots On Net
Alec Dillon, 14
Nick Master, 12
Chris Wilkie, 10
Chase Berger, 10
Mason Appleton, 6
Chris Wilkie, 15
Mason Appleton, 8
Wade Allison, 8
Chase Berger, 7
Five Tied, 6
32-23-5
37-17-6
Scouting the Stampede
Sioux Falls advanced to the Western Conference Final by defeating topseeded Sioux City three games to two. In Game 5 on the road at the Tyson
Events Center, the Stampede came away with an impressive 6-1 victory to
win the series. The No. 4 seed in the west, Sioux Falls finished the regular
season with an overall record of 32-23-5 and 69 points. Forward Cooper
Marody was the team’s leading scorer after coming over in a trade from
Muskegon in early December. Marody had 49 points in 38 games for the
Stampede, while finishing with 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points in
52 total games. Sioux Falls has also gotten great production from
its yongest skater, Kieffer Bellows, who led the team with 33 goals in the
regular season. Dillon Eichstadt was the team’s leading scorer from the
blue line, notching seven goals and 19 assists along with a plus-9 rating.
Stefanos Lekkas got most of the playing time in net down the stretch, and
has played every minute of the postseason so far. Against Sioux City in
the first round, Lekkas allowed just eight goals with a GAA of 1.61 and a
save percentage at .946. Tri-City and Sioux Falls split their six contests this
season. The Stampede won the first three meetings before the Storm got
even, winning the final three matchups. Bellows and Marody each scored
10 points in the series, with Bellows lighting the lamp seven times.
Storm Sweep Lancers, Move To Conference Finals
The Tri-City Storm completed a sweep of the Omaha Lancers Saturday
night at the Viaero Event Center, winning 3-1 in Game 3 to move on to
the Western Conference Final. Storm goals were scored by Dan Labosky,
Mason Appleton and Chris Wilkie, while Alec Dillon stopped 28 shots to
record his third win of the series.
2015 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs
TRI-CITY STORM HOCKEY
STORM IN BRIEF
Playoff History With Sioux Falls
The current series is the third playoff meeting all-time between
Tri-City and Sioux Falls. The first time came back in 2006, with the
Stampede winning a Divisional Semifinal series three games to
two. The Storm’s leading scorer in the series was Zach Cohen, who
notched three goals. Cohen went on to play at Boston University
and help the school win the National Championship in 2009. In
2007, Sioux Falls defeated Tri-City 4-3 in a one-game round robin
quarterfinal matchup. Combined, the Storm have a 2-4 overall
record against the Stampede in postseason play.
Location..................................... Kearney, Neb.
Founded......................................................2000
Nickname................................................. Storm
Colors....................... Purple, Black and Silver
Home Arena................. Viaero Event Center
Capacity.......................................................5000
League.........................................................USHL
Owner.............................................. Kirk Brooks
President...........................................Greg Shea
General Manager..........................Jim Hulton
Long Time Coming
Saturday night’s series win marked the first time Tri-City has been
victorious in a playoff series since 2007 when it advanced after a
seven-game first round series with Sioux City. The only time the
Storm have made it to the Clark Cup Final was in 2004 after series
wins vs. Des Moines and Sioux City. Tri-City has an all-time combined
record of 4-4 in Western Conference Final games.
How Sweep It Is
The sweep of Omaha is the first time Storm fans saw Tri-City go
unbeaten in a playoff series since the team topped Des Moines three
games to none in a USHL Quarterfinals on April 3, 2004. The Storm
won the final game of that series 6-1 at Buccaneer Arena behind
a three-point night from forward John Dingle. In Saturday night’s
clincher, both forward Mason Appleton and defenseman Bobby
Nardella had multi-point efforts. Appleton had a goal and an assist,
while Nardella recorded two helpers.
Home Cooking
Including two playoff wins, Tri-City now has an overall home record
of 24-6-2 in games played at the Viaero Event Center in Kearney.
When the Storm won 10 straight home games from Jan. 9 through
Feb. 28, it represented the longest such streak in the USHL this
season. The team has outscored opponents 116-71 in Kearney this
season through 32 games, giving them a goal differential of +45.
Battling Back
Tri-City came from behind to win both Games 2 and 3 against
Omaha in the Western Conference Semifinals. In Game 2 on
Thursday, the Storm entered the third period with a 2-0 deficit but
got tallies from Kevin Kerr, Mason Appleton and Dan Labosky in
the final 20 minutes to emerge with a 3-2 victory. Then in Game 3
on Saturday, Tri-City fell behind 1-0 just 2:09 into the game but tied
things up on a Labosky goal before goals by Appleton and Wilkie in
the second and third periods to record the sweep.
Dillon Earning His Stripes
Storm goaltender Alec Dillon has brought his stellar play over from
the regular seaosn to the playoffs. The netminder allowed just four
total goals in the three-game sweep of Omaha and leads all playoff
goaltenders in goals against average (1.34). The Victoria, B.C. native
also led the USHL in GAA during the regular season with a mark
of 2.27 through 41 games. Dillon is expected to get the start in
between the pipes on Friday for Game 1.
CONTACT
Phone........................................(308) 338-8809
Fax..............................................(308) 338-8148
Address....................................... 609 Platte Rd
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach....................................Jim Hulton
Assistant Coach..............................J.B. Bittner
Assistant Coach.............................. Neil Breen
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Boston College
Christopher Brown
Michigan State
Cody Milan
Mason Appleton
Minnesota State
Jason Krych
Nebraska-Omaha
Jalen Schulz
North Dakota
Chris Wilkie
Notre Dame
Bobby Nardella
Tory Dello
Penn State
Chase Berger
Kevin Kerr
Vince Pedrie
Providence
Garrett Gamez
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Alec Dillon
Robert Morris
Kyle Eastman
St. Cloud State
Jake Wahlin
UMass-Lowell
Mattias Goransson
Nick Master
Western Michigan
Wade Allison
Wisconsin
Matthew Freytag
Yale University
Nolan Aibel
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TRI-CITY STORM 2014-15 ROSTER
No.
1
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
28
30
44
Name
Jared Rutledge
Tory Dello
Vince Pedrie
Kevin Kerr
Bobby Nardella
Jalen Schulz
Nolan Aibel
Kyle Eastman
Chase Berger
Joel Herbert
Garrett Gamez
Matthew Freytag
Conner Valesano
Jason Krych
Wade Allison
Jake Wahlin
Nick Master
Mason Appleton
Cody Milan
Dan Labosky
Christopher Brown
Mattias Goransson
Alec Dillon
Chris Wilkie
Pos
Goalie
Defense
Defense
Defense
Defense
Defense
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Defense
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Forward
Defense
Goalie
Forward
Hometown
Skokie, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Apple Valley, MN
Bensalem, PA
Rosemont, IL
Cambridge, MN
Brookville, NY
Angola, NY
St. Louis, MO
Edson, AB
Chino Hills, CA
Wayzata, MN
Duluth, MN
Champlin, MN
Myrtle, MB
White Bear Lake, MN
Broomall, PA
Green Bay, WI
White Lake, MI
Edina, MN
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Grums, SWE
Victoria, BC
Omaha, NE
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Jim Hulton (2nd season)
Assistant Coach: JB Bittner (2nd season)
Assistant Coach: Neil Breen (1st season)
Last Team
Janesville Jets
Tri-City Storm
Bloomington Thunder
Tri-City Storm
Sioux City Musketeers
Tri-City Storm
Tri-City Storm
Tri-City Storm
Tri-City Storm
Whitecourt Wolverines
Tri-City Storm
Wayzata HS
Tri-City Storm
Totino-Grace HS
Omaha AAA
White Bear Lake HS
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Notre Dame Academy
Tri-City Storm
Colorado College
Green Bay Gamblers
Brynas J20
Victoria Grizzlies
Tri-City Storm
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Aibel – Able
Freytag – Fry-Tag
Gamez – Gah-Mez
Goransson – Gore-un-son
Krych – Kr-itch
Labosky - Luh-Bah-Skee
Milan - My-Lynn
Pedrie – Pee-Dree
Valesano – Val-Eh-Sah-No
Wahlin – Wall-in
Wilkie – Will-key
FOLLOW THE STORM ON TWITTER
Tory Dello Vince Pedrie
Kevin Kerr
Bobby Nardella
Jalen Schulz
Nolan Aibel
Kyle Eastman
Chase Berger
Joel Herbert
Garrett Gamez
Matt Freytag
@torydello3
@Vpedrie11
@Kevin_Kerr7
@bnardella_7
@jalenschulz15
@NolanAibel9
@kyleeastman22
@chaseberger10
@joelherbs
@ggamez13
@MattyTagz15
Conner Valesano
Jason Krych
Wade Allison
Jake Wahlin
Nick Master
Mason Appleton
Cody Milan
Dan Labosky
Christopher Brown
Mattias Goransson
Alec Dillon
Chris Wilkie
@Connervalesano
@Krych17
@wadeallison11
@JakeWahlin
@mastynick88
@MTAppleton
@cody_milan10
@EarLobes27
@cbrown17_
@gooransson
@adilly96
@CWilkie44
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2014-15 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
# PLAYER
P GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP PPA SH SHA GWG SHOTS S%
44Wilkie, Chris
F 5935 20 55 +4 66 17 4
0
0
8
300 .117
13Gamez, Garrett F 4415 29 44 +10 25 10 6
1
0
1
106 .142
21Master, Nick
F 5623 19 42 +20 18 6
5
0
0
3
118 .195
7 Nardella, Bobby
D 56 10 32 42 +15 31
0
22
0
0
0
106
.094
20Wahlin, Jake
F 5915 26 41 +17 47 1 10
0
0
4
129 .116
22Appleton, Mason F 5412 28 40 -3 84 2 14
2
1
0
96
.125
26Brown, ChristopherF 150 5 5 -2
2
0
1
0
0
0
19
.000
(TOTALS) 58 13 24 37 -11
24
4
7
0
0
0
111
.117
15Freytag, Matthew F 4915 15 30 +16 16 6
2
0
0
4
120 .125
11Berger, Chase
F 5810 20 30 +9 49 1
6
1
0
1
146 .068
4
Pedrie, Vince D
23
4
3
7
+18
2100 01 1 48.083
(TOTALS) 62 13 16 29 +18 70
4
8
0
1
4
174
.075
6
Kerr, Kevin D
60
7
22
29
+17
2012 01 0 66.106
28Goransson, MattiasD577 21 28 +9 39 3
8
0
1
1
98
.071
23Milan, Cody
F 6011 15 26 -12 78 2
6
1
1
1
135 .081
24Labosky, Daniel F 417 17 24 +5 32 0
2
3
0
1
72
.097
3 Dello, Tory
D 53 2 15 17 +9
62
0
11
0
0
1
81
.025
16Valesano, Conner F 544 10 14 +9 68 0
0
0
1
0
54
.074
19Allison, Wade
F 356 7 13 +7
8
0
1
0
0
3
58
.103
12Herbert, Joel
F 513 8 11 -1 41 2
1
0
0
0
56
.054
9
Aibel, Nolan F
32
2
8
10
+22900 00 1 28.071
8
Schulz, Jalen D
56
2
6
8+5
111
00 01 0 56.036
10Eastman, Kyle
F 352 6 8 +8 58 0
0
0
0
0
30
.067
17Krych, Jason
D351 3 4 +9
2
1
0
0
0
0
19
.053
51
Long, Austen F
2
1
0
1-11400 00 0
3 .333
30Dillon, Alec
G410 1 1
0
10 0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
25
Meyer, Carson F
2
0
1
10 000 00 0
3 .000
1
Rutledge, JaredG
20
0
0
00 200 00 0
0 .000
(TOTALS) 24 0 0 0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
5McNeely, Jack
D
40 0 0 -1 0 0 0
0 0
0
3 .000
2Dineen, Cam
D
30 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
0
4 .000
2Yoon, Bryan
D
10 0 0 +1 0 0 0
0 0
0
0 .000
14
Sternschein, Sam
F
1
0
0
00 000 00 0
2 .000
# GOALIES
30
Dillon, Alec
1 Rutledge, Jared
(TOTALS)
GPMIN W L OTL SO GA GAA SV SV%
41
2301:46
23
114 387
2.27928
.914
20 1034:4313 3
1
1
38 2.20 438 .920
24 1257:0915 4
1
1
52 2.48 555 .914
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2014-15 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
Date
Opponent
Score
W/L
Fri • 26th
@ Lincoln
4-3
W
1-0-0
3,436
vs. Sioux Falls
@ Des Moines
vs. Chicago
vs. Chicago
vs. Green Bay
vs. Green Bay
@ Team USA
@ Team USA
@ Madison
3-5
2-1
4-0
1-2
4-0
3-4
4-2
5-1
4-5
L
W, SO
W
L
W
L, SO
W
W
L
1-1-0
2-1-0
3-1-0
3-2-0
4-2-0
4-2-1
5-2-1
6-2-1
6-3-1
2,166
1,853
1,431
2,249
2,575
1,258
251
316
2,067
Weyrick (14/4), Dillon (14/0) Freytag • Wilkie • Berger
Dillon (34/1)
Master
Spicer • Gamez • Wilkie • Appleton
Dillon (39/0)
Dillon (29/2)
Herbert
Gamez • Milan • Wilkie • Appleton
Dillon (25/0)
Master • Nardella • Wahlin
Dillon (20/3)
Dillon (21/2)
Herbert • Freytag (2) • Gamez
Dillon (14/1) Milan • Wilkie • Hatcher • Goransson • Krych
Dillon (29/5)
Master • Aibel • Wilkie • Berger
@ Madison
vs. Muskegon
vs. Muskegon
@ Cedar Rapids
@ Omaha
vs. Des Moines
@ Sioux City
@ Des Moines
@ Omaha
3-4
5-4
2-3
2-7
2-1
5-2
5-7
3-4
2-4
L, OT
W, SO
L, SO
L
W, SO
W
L
L
L
6-3-2
7-3-2
7-3-3
7-4-3
8-4-3
9-4-3
9-5-3
9-6-3
9-7-3
3,568
1,866
2,316
2,026
3,801
2,199
2,921
2,292
3,698
Weyrick (23/4)
Appleton (2) • Wilkie
Dillon (28/4) Goransson • Wilkie • Valesano • Nardealla
Dillon (29/2)
Goransson • Wahlin
Dillon (5/5), Weyrick (8/2)
Wilkie • Freytag
Dillon (28/1)
Berger
Weyrick (21/2)
Wilkie • Gamez • Aibel • Kerr • Milan
Milan (2) • Gamez • Master • Kerr
Weyrick (19/6)
Weyrick (28/4) Goransson • Gamez • Appleton
Dillon (18/3)
Herbert • Wilkie
Sat • 6th
Tue • 9th
Fri • 12th
Sat • 13th
Fri • 19th
Sat • 27th
Sun • 28th
Wed • 31st
@ Dubuque
vs. Lincoln
vs. Youngstown
vs. Youngstown
@ Omaha
vs. Sioux City
@ Omaha
@ Sioux Falls
2-1
2-1
5-3
3-2
3-4
3-1
2-3
1-3
W
W
W
W, SO
L, OT
W
L, SO
L
10-7-3
11-7-3
12-7-3
13-7-3
13-7-4
14-7-4
14-7-5
14-8-5
2,644
1,786
2,213
3,425
3,032
1,727
2,859
6,232
Fri • 2nd
Sat • 3rd
Fri • 9th
Sat • 10th
Sat • 17th
Sun • 18th
Fri • 23rd
Sat • 24th
Tue • 27th
Sat • 31st
@ Sioux Falls
vs. Omaha
vs. Waterloo
vs. Waterloo
@ Bloomington
@ Bloomington
vs. Omaha
vs. Sioux Falls
vs. Lincoln
vs. Sioux Falls
4-6
1-2
5-3
3-2
1-0
6-2
5-1
4-2
5-1
5-4
L
L
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W, SO
14-9-5
14-10-5
15-10-5
16-10-5
17-10-5
18-10-5
19-10-5
20-10-5
21-10-5
22-10-5
6,007
4,041
2,384
3,021
2,621
2,183
2,982
3,083
1,365
3,551
@ Lincoln
@ Waterloo
@ Waterloo
vs. Omaha
@ Sioux City
@ Lincoln
vs. Lincoln
@ Sioux City
vs. Sioux City
vs. Sioux City
3-1
1-0
0-3
5-1
3-2
2-3
3-1
3-4
4-3
4-3
W
W, OT
L
W
W, SO
L, SO
W
L
W, OT
W
23-10-5
24-10-5
24-11-5
25-11-5
26-11-5
26-11-6
27-11-6
27-12-6
28-12-6
29-12-6
3,497
Dillon (15/1)
Freytag • Labosky • Gamez
2,940
Rutledge (32/0)
Wilkie
2,268
Dillon (21/2)
4,256 Dillon (13/1), Rutledge (13/0) Wilkie • Master (2) • Gamez • Eastman
3,059
Rutledge (37/2)
Wilkie • Gamez
3,656
Rutledge (25/2)
Master • Wahlin
3,385
Dillon (15/1)
Kerr • Pedrie • Master
2,856 Rutledge (0/2), Dillon (25/2)
Wahlin • Wilkie • Freytag
3,394
Dillon (22/3)
Appleton • Wilkie • Master (2)
3,621
Rutledge (29/1) Freytag • Milan (2) • Gamez • Valesano
@ Fargo
@ Fargo
@ Lincoln
vs. Lincoln
vs. Omaha
vs. Des Moines
vs. Des Moines
vs. Fargo
vs. Fargo
3-4
3-2
6-1
3-4
5-3
5-4
4-2
2-4
1-2
L
W
W
L
W
W, OT
W
L
L
29-13-6
30-13-6
31-13-6
31-14-6
32-14-6
33-14-6
34-14-6
34-15-6
34-16-6
2,961 Rutledge (1/2), Dillon (15/2)
Gamez • Pedrie • Wilkie
3,814
Rutledge (22/2)
Labosky • Wahlin • Wilkie
2,753
Dillon (17/1) Freytag • Wahlin • Gamez • Wilkie • Dello • Berger
2,997 Rutledge (14/18), Dillon (11/11)
Nardella • Master (2)
3,269
Dillon (25/3) Master • Pedrie • Berger • Dello • Wilkie
2,832
Rutledge (15/4) Appleton • Nardella • Kerr • Master • Berger
2,547
Dillon (27/2) Nardella • Pedrie • Wahlin • Milan
2,156
Dillon (23/3)
Kerr • Gamez
3,092
Dillon (38/2)
Wilkie
September (1-0-0)
October (5-3-1)
Fri • 3rd
Sat • 4th
Fri • 10th
Sat • 11th
Fri • 17th
Sat • 18th
Fri • 24th
Sat • 25th
Fri • 31st
November (3-4-2)
Sat • 1st
Fri • 7th
Sat • 8th
Fri • 14th
Sat • 15th
Fri • 21st
Sat • 22nd
Wed • 26th
Sat • 29th
December (5-1-2)
January (8-2-0)
February (7-2-1)
Fri • 6th
Sat • 7th
Sun • 8th
Fri • 13th
Sat • 14th
Fri • 20th
Sat • 21st
Sun • 22nd
Fri • 27th
Sat • 28th
March (5-4-0)
Thu • 5th
Fri • 6th
Tue • 10th
Fri • 13th
Sat • 14th
Fri • 20th
Sat • 21st
Fri • 27th
Sat • 28th
April (3-1-0)
Record Attendance
Goaltender (S/GA)
Dillon (24/3)
Dillon (42/1)
Dillon (29/1)
Dillon (18/3)
Rutledge (31/2)
Dillon (25/4)
Rutledge (31/2)
Dillon (27/2)
Rutledge (18/3)
Storm Scoring
Appleton • Gamez • Eastman • Wilkie
Freytag • Wilkie
Nardella • Allison
Master (3) • Labosky • Wilkie
Kerr • Wahlin
Schulz • Wahlin • Wilkie
Wilkie • Allison • Schulz
Nardella • Milan
Berger
Dillon (2/2), Rutledge (19/3) Wilkie (2) • Milan • Nardella
Dillon (16/2)
Goransson
Dillon (20/3)
Wilkie (3) • Labosky • Freytag
Rutledge (33/2)
Berger • Wahlin • Allison
Dillon (25/0)
Freytag
Rutledge (23/2) Kerr • Appleton • Wahlin • Nardella • Master (2)
Rutledge (21/1) Milan • Wilkie • Appleton • Master • Freytag
Rutledge (17/2)
Berger • Master (2) • Wilkie
Dillon (20/1) Freytag (2) • Wahlin • Goransson • Appleton • Valesano
Dillon (24/4) Freytag • Gamez • Master • Berger
7-6
W
6,012
Dillon (29/6) Allison (2) • Wahlin • Nardella • Appleton • Wilkie (2)
Fri • 3rd
@ Sioux Falls
35-16-6
Sat • 4th
vs. Cedar
Rapids
Valesano
• Goransson
• Allison • Labosky
4-1 Game
W Is Free
3,946
Rutledge
36-16-6
Join The Chase
- Every
Friday Storm
Kids Friday,
Kids 12-Under
Enter (30/1)
Free With
Each
Paid Adult
Fri • 10th
@ Dubuque
1-4
L
2,833
Dillon (28/3)
Wilkie
36-17-6
Sat • 11th
@ Des Moines
5-2
Rutledge (33/2) Wahlin (2) • Labosky (2) • Long (affiliate)
W
37-17-6
2,995
TRI-CITY STORM COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Jim Hulton
Jim Hulton is in his first full campaign as head coach of the Storm, after taking
over the duties midway through the 2013-14 season.
Hulton has a wealth of coaching experience at many levels, including his most
recent position as an Assistant Coach with the Florida Panthers in the National
Hockey League from 2008-2011. Before his time in Florida, Hulton served as
a coach in the OHL for 10 seasons. He got his first OHL head coaching experience with the Mississauga IceDogs program, taking over in 1998. He continued
there until the conclusion of the 1999-00 year.
He then became the Head Coach of the Belleville Bulls for three seasons from
2000-03, and from there he led his hometown Kingston Frontenacs for three
seasons from 2003-06.
Hulton, 45-years-old, has coached many OHL players who have went on to NHL careers such as Jason
Spezza, David Clarkson, Chris Stewart and Zac Rinaldo. While with the Panthers, Hulton coached former
Storm forward Bill Thomas along with countless other stars like Stephan Weiss, Radek Dvorak, Nathan
Horton and Thomas Vokoun.
Assistant Coach: JB Bittner
JB Bittner is now in his second season on the coaching staff as an assistant
coach.
The 31-year old came to Kearney after a two-year stint as an assistant with the
South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
Before the Stingrays, Bittner spent three seasons as an assistant coach and video coordinator with his alma mater, Ohio State. In his four seasons as a player
with the Buckeyes, he registered 76 points on 37 goals and 39 assists. He also
served as team captain in 2004.
Bittner started in the USHL, playing as a forward in 108 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede from 1999-2001. After college he played professionally for three seasons in both the
ECHL and AHL.
Assistant Coach: Neil Breen
Neil Breen was added to Hulton’s coaching staff last summer, and brings
knowledge of recruiting as well as strength training to the group.
Breen won a Clark Cup Championship with the Omaha Lancers in 1998 before
playing collegiately at Quinnipiac University from 1998-2002. Most recently, he
had an assistant coaching role with the Springfield Jr. Blues in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
A Spokane, Wash. native, Breen spent parts of three seasons in Omaha, playing
in 131 games with the Lancers.
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15TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON (2000-2015)
The 2014-15 season marks the 15th year of hockey in the heartland. Since the Storm kicked off its inaugural season in 2000 there
has been plenty of drama and excitement.
The team’s original owner, Ted Baer, was given approval to place
a new team in Kearney in May of 1999 and two months later, Jim
Hillman was named the first head coach in franchise history.
In Nov. of 2000 the Storm played their first home game against
Des Moines. The team was named USHL Organization of the Year
in it’s first year of operations.
Hillman led the team until Dec. of 2002, when he stepped down.
On Jan. 29, 2003, Bliss Littler was announced as the team’s new
general manager and head coach. The team rallied with a sevengame win streak to make the 2003 Playoffs and set the stage for
the 2003-04 season.
Tri-City racked up 91 total points and brought home the Anderson Cup, the trophy awarded to the USHL
franchise with the most points during the regular season. The Storm once again recieved recognition as the
USHL Organization of the Year.
Littler remained in control of the coaching duties until the end of the 2007-08 season.
In April of 2009, owner Joel Wiens sold the team and arena to current owner Kirk Brooks. The following year,
the team saw Jaden Schwartz drafted 14th overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft. Schwartz has now
played in 132 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and is the most successful Storm player in professional
hockey.
Current head coach Jim Hulton, who was hired in Nov. of 2013, is now in his first full season with the club.
Storm In The NHL
2002-04: Bill Thomas – Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers
2002-04: Steve Wagner – St. Louis Blues
2003-04: Jack Hillen – New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals
2003-04: Peter Mannino – New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets
2003-05: Christian Hanson – Toronto Maple Leafs
2002-03: Scott Parse - Los Angeles Kings
2004-06: Jarod Palmer - Minnesota Wild
2009-10: Jaden Schwartz – St. Louis Blues
2002-04: Mark Van Guilder – Nashville Predators
2001-02: Bobby Robins – Boston Bruins
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