Clark Cup MVP Wade Allison Relishes Wild Month, NHL Combine
June 10, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
Kearney, Neb. - Wade Allison's turbulent month has been filled with joy and irreplaceable experiences.
Exactly one month ago, the Storm eliminated the Waterloo Black Hawks in a do-or-die fifth game of the Western Conference Finals. Ten days later at the Viaero Center, the 18-year-old prospect hoisted the Clark Cup after Tri-City swept the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Allison was named Clark Cup Most Valuable Player; he led the league with nine goals and scored five in the Final.
Allison left Kearney a few days later and attended the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo, New York for testing from June 1-6. He finished top-25 in ten categories and said he was happy with his performance. The combine brings together the top-100 eligible prospects prior to the NHL draft.
"It's been crazy and definitely an adventure I'll remember," Allison said about the last few weeks. For six days at the combine, he shared an office with potential number-one overall pick Auston Matthews and 30 NHL teams at the First Niagara Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres.
"I thought the interviews [with NHL teams] went well and it was a good experience," he explained. "Just being there through the whole week I was almost in disbelief. It was almost like a dream."
It's been no delusion. The NHL Draft is on June 24-25 in Buffalo. Allison plans to keep up the momentum with an extensive training program in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
"We're skating once or twice a day for one to three hours. We workout once or twice a day, have mobility classes and yoga."
It's that drive which has frequently lifted the 6-foot-2, 206-lb. winger to new levels. Allison led all players with nine goals in the playoffs. After scoring one goal through the first quarter of the regular season, he finished second on the Storm with 25 goals and 47 points. Allison became the first player to win USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game MVP and Clark Cup MVP.
In January, Allison was ranked the 192nd North American skater by NHL Central Scouting on the NHL Draft Midterm Rankings. Four months later, Allison made the largest jump of any skater or goalie in the world, moving to #62 on the Final list.
"It's definitely been a quick transition. That's part of life. You just have to keep preparing yourself."
Tri-City Storm season tickets are available for 2016-17 and can be purchased by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8011.
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United States Hockey League Stories from June 10, 2016
- Clark Cup MVP Wade Allison Relishes Wild Month, NHL Combine - Tri-City Storm
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