Storm Get Gamez with Top Pick in 2012 Entry Draft

The Storm drafted 11 players - seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie.

Gamez, who is a 5-foot-11 and 165-pound forward, had 27 goals and 28 assists in 40 games last season playing for the L.A. Jr. Kings U16 midget minor team. The 17-year old native of Chino Hills, Calif., led the Jr. Kings in every major offensive category last season.

"We are thrilled to get Garrett," said Storm GM/Head Coach Josh Hauge. "He was a player we tried to add around Christmas this past season, but he was a loyal kid to the team he was playing with (Jr. Kings U16)."

"We are excited that we are getting a character individual to come in and be a solid contributor right away."

After making Gamez the first selection in the first round, the Storm did not select again until the third round. In the third round, the Storm drafted C Jason Cotton from the Colorado Thunderbirds U16 with the 35th overall pick. Cotton, from Murphy, Texas, had 15 goals and 24 assists in 40 games last season.

"Cotton is a big, strong, physical forward, who has exceptional hands," said Hauge about his third round pick. "He should help the depth of our team next season and adds a lot of potential."

Each USHL team stopped drafting players once they reached 23 protected players, and resumed drafting players upon every team reaching the 23-man mark. The draft concluded once every team had 30 players protected.

In the second phase of the entry draft, the Storm selected G Philip Lehr in the 19th round (275th overall). Lehr has played international hockey with the German U18 and U19 teams. The 18-year old from Berlin is 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds and played last season for RT Bad Nauheim in the Germany 3 league. Lehr will play for Germany's World Junior U20 team this season, and will miss a month with the Storm.

Hauge and the hockey operations staff will now prepare for the June main camp in Las Vegas, Nev. The main camp will determine which players will come into training camp in Sept. 1, 2012.

Tri-City Storm - 2012 Entry Draft Selections:

1st Round - 8th overall pick

RW Garrett Gamez - 2/17/95, Chino Hills, California, 5'11 / 165 lbs

2011-12 Team: L.A. Jr. Kings U16 (Midget Tier I) -

27 goals, 28 assists, 55 points in 40 games

Previous Storm Picks in 1st Round: 2011 - LW Thomas Nykopp; 2010 - None; 2009 - RW Justin DeMartino; 2009 - D Taylor Aronson; 2008 - D Sean Escobedo; 2007 - C Mike Cichy

2nd Round - No pick for Tri-City (Traded to Omaha)

Previous Storm Picks in 2nd Round: 2011 - None; 2010 - C Brian Ward; 2009 - LW/C Blake Coleman; 2008 - C Eli Zuck; 2007 - D David Carle

3rd Round - 35th overall pick

C Jason Cotton - 2/7/95, Murphy, Texas, 6'3 / 180 lbs

2011-12 Team: Colorado Thunderbirds U16 (Midget Tier I) -

15 goal, 24 assists, 39 points in 40 games

Previous Storm Picks in 3rd Round: 2011 - D Dylan Maller; 2010 - LW Brad Schierhorn; 2010 - LW Dominic Panetta; 2009 - Carsen Chubak; 2008 - None; 2007 - RW Colin Smith; 2007 - D Nick Jaskowiak

4th Round - 51st overall pick

C Nick Hutchison - 4/27/95, Hicksville, New York, 6'3 / 175 lbs

2011-12 Team: Long Island Royals U16 (AYHL) -

32 goals, 42 assists, 74 points in 70 games

Previous Storm Picks in 4th Round: 2011 - LW Will Merchant; 2011 - D Josh McArdle; 2011 - Tim Bonner; 2011 - Corey Petrash; 2010 - D Ryan Sproul; 2010 - D Bill Eiserman; 2009 - No Pick; 2008 - D Rob Vannelli; 2008 - D Rick Pinkston; 2007 - RW Brett Beebe

5th Round - No pick for Tri-City (Pass - Due to previous trade)

Previous Storm Picks in 5th Round: 2011 - None; 2010 - RW Shane Walsh; 2009 - D Ben Montgomery; 2008 - G Nick Maricic; 2007 - G Ian O'Brien

6th Round - 80th overall pick

D Matt Staples - 3/7/95, Coppell, Texas, 6'0 / 175 lbs

2011-12 Team: Dallas Stars U16 (Midget Tier I) -

8 goals, 25 assists, 33 points in 40 games

Previous Storm Picks in 6th Round: 2011 - D Joona Kunnas; 2010 - None; 2009 - RW Mitch Hughes; 2008 - None; 2007 - D Tom Kleidon

7th Round - No pick for Tri-City (Pass - 23 protected players)

Previous Storm Picks in 7th Round: 2011 - D Eli May; 2010 - None; 2009 - D Chris Joyaux; 2008 - None; 2007 - None

Storm completed phase I (23 protected players) and passed through to the 13th round

15th Round - 215th overall pick

RW Thomas Aldworth - 4/30/95, Keller, Texas, 6'0 / 175 lbs

2011-12 Team: Cushing Academy (NED1) -

10 goals, 19 assists, 29 points in 30 games

16th Round - 230th overall pick

D Tommy Vannelli - 1/26/95, Victoria, Minnesota, 6'2 / 170 lbs

2011-12 Team: Minnetonka HS (Minn. HS) -

6 goals, 14 assist, 20 points in 25 games

17th Round - 245th overall pick

LW Devin Tringale - 9/21/93, Medford, Massachusetts, 6'0 / 190 lbs

2011-12 Team: Lawrence Academy (NED1) -

19 goals, 27 assist, 46 points in 31 games

18th Round - 260th overall pick

LW Thomas Lindstrom - 1/11/95, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, 5'11 / 160 lbs

2011-12 Team: Breck HS (Minn. HS) -

29 goals, 31 assists, 60 points in 25 games

19th Round - 275th overall pick

G Philip Lehr - 6/3/93, Berlin, Germany, 5'11 / 160 lbs

2011-12 Team: RT Bad Nauheim (Germany 3) -

---Stats not available---

20th Round - 290th overall pick

D John Hrabovsky - 3/19/93, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, 5'11 / 180 lbs

2011-12 Team: Tri-City Storm (USHL) -

0 goals, 10 assists, 10 points in 56 games

21st Round - 305th overall pick

RW Chase McMurphy - 2/15/94, Chestermere, Alberta, 6'2 / 185 lbs

2011-12 Team: Calgary Mustangs (AJHL) -

17 goals, 26 assists, 43 points in 55 games

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