Tri-City Storm Looks to Continue Conference Success
February 8, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
The Tri-City Storm earned a weekend split at the Youngstown Phantoms in its longest road trip of the season, including a 2-1 Friday win less than 24 hours after completing a 15-hour drive. Through the first four games of the Storm's season-long six-game road trip, Tri-City has points in three contests, taking a 2-0-1-0 record to Sioux Falls.
Heading into a week of practice for the Storm, Tri-City has made a few acquisitions. Defenseman Carver Watson and Max Humitz were acquired last week. Humitz scored on his first shift as a Tri-City Storm player Friday at Youngstown. The Storm has also acquired forward Brandon Duhaime from the Chicago Steel, a deal completed late Saturday night.
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Last Week:
Friday, February 5 at Youngstown, W, 2-1
Saturday, February 6 at Youngstown, L, 4-2
This Week:
Friday, February 12 at Sioux Falls, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, February 13 at Sioux Falls, 7:05 p.m.
Need to Know:
Four Down, Two To Go
The Storm began a season-long six-game road trip January 29 at Fargo and has continued its theme of playing opponents closely and earning points. All four games of the trip have been tied or one-goal contests with less than a minute to play. The Storm has escaped with two wins and points in three of the first four road games.
Saturday at Youngstown, the Storm had a USHL-best eight-game road points streak snapped, a stretch that began Dec. 28 at Green Bay.
So far, the Storm has travelled 3,130 miles in the first four games, including the 1,034-mile journey to Youngstown, OH.
By comparison, it is 3,302 miles to drive from Seattle, WA to Miami, FL, 3,459 miles to fly from London, U.K., to New York, NY and 3,674 miles to drive from Kearney, NE to the Panama Canal.
The good news; the Storm has the most road wins (13) and points (30) of any Western Conference team. Overall, Tri-City is 13-6-4-0 on the road, the third-most away wins in the league.
The New Guys
Since last Monday, the Storm has made a trio of moves, picking up defenseman Carver Watson and forwards Max Humitz and Brandon Duhaime.
Watson, picked up off waivers from the Madison Capitols, is a familiar last name to Head Coach and General Manager Bill Muckalt, who coached Carver's older brother, Cliff, at Michigan Tech.
Humitz, committed to Lake Superior State, was acquired last Tuesday from Muskegon. The fourth-year threat scored in his first shift as a Tri-City forward Friday at Youngstown, giving the 5-foot-8, 160-lb. sniper eight goals this season.
Duhaime, 18, was leading Chicago in assists and points at the time of the trade, with 22 helpers and 32 points.
Conference Success
Heading into the weekend against Sioux Falls, Tri-City is 9-0-2-2 in its last 13 conference games, boosting to an overall conference mark of 12-8-4-2.
After the weekend set with the Eastern Conference's Phantoms, the Storm plays five straight games against Western Conference foes, including the next three against the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Thus far, the Storm is 1-1-1-0 against Sioux Falls.
Game Recaps:
Game 39 at Fargo: Humitz debuts with a flash, Storm follows and wins, 2-1
In his first shift, Max Humitz tallied, bringing excitement to the Storm bench and carrying Tri-City to a 2-1 win against the Youngstown Phantoms.
The Storm scored the first two goals of the game and used 20 saves by Jake Kielly.
Kielly, who yielded a goal early in the third, recovered while the Storm defense allowed six shots in the final frame. The 19-year-old netminder has helped Tri-City earn points in his last nine appearances.
Wade Allison scored his 17th of the season. Colin DeAugustine made 24 saves in defeat for the Phantoms.
Game 40 at Youngstown: Phantoms score twice in final minute to knock Storm, 4-2
Joe Cipollone tied the game with seven minutes left, but Youngstown Phantoms forward Jason Cotton scored the game-winning goal with 21 ticks remaining to best the Tri-City Storm, 4-2, Saturday at Covelli Centre.
After a turnover, Cotton rifled a shot to the short side and past Dayton Rasmussen, who kept Tri-City in the game with 17 saves. Cam Morrison scored into an empty net with five seconds left to ice the game.
Through the first four games of the Storm's season-long six-game road trip, Tri-City has points in three contests (2-0-1-0), keeping it second in the conference with 46 points. The regulation loss snapped the Storm's eight-game point streak on the road, the longest in the league this season.
Schedule:
Tuesday, February 9, 2016:
Practice - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016:
Practice - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11, 2016:
TBD
Friday, February 12, 2016: Game at Sioux Falls
Storm at Stampede - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, February 13, 2016: Game at Sioux Falls
Storm at Stampede - 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, February 14, 2016:
Off Day
Monday, February 8, 2016:
TBD
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The Storm takes on the Sioux Falls Stampede on the road next Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:05 p.m, with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. Tri-City is next at home on Feb. 19 against Sioux Falls for Thunderstruck Night, with a Free Kids Friday and a special thunderstick giveaway. Listen to the Storm's games on the Breeze 94.5 FM with David Fine.
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Groups of 10+ can get discounted group tickets for as low as $11. For information contact the Storm Box Office at 308-338-8144.
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