Tri-City Storm Faces Waterloo Black Hawks in Conference Finals, Tickets on Sale 10 AM Monday
April 25, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
The Tri-City Storm has advanced to the Western Conference Finals and faces the Waterloo Black Hawks after Tri-City swept the Sioux Falls Stampede in the opening round.
During Friday's Game 3 in Sioux Falls, the Storm took out the defending Clark Cup Champions by scoring four straight goals for the third straight contest. The sweep was a measure of revenge for Tri-City; last season, Sioux Falls eliminated the Storm in four games during the Western Conference Finals.
This is the second time Tri-City has gone to the second round in consecutive seasons (2004, 2005).
One of the Storm's top offensive lines - Dan Labosky (1g, 5a), Alex Limoges (2g, 2a) and Wade Allison (2g, 2a) - continues to catalyze Tri-City's success. Labosky is tied for the USHL lead in postseason assists, Limoges is on a USHL-best nine-game point streak (4g, 8a) and Allison has tallied at least one point in 34 of the last 41 games.
Goalie Jake Kielly allowed three goals in three games and sports the top goals against average (1.00) and save percentage (.965) in the postseason. The Storm outscored Sioux Falls, 12-3, in three contests.
Tri-City hosts Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday, April 29 and Game 2 this Saturday, April 30. Both games are at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are on sale Monday, April 25 at 10 a.m..
http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets
Last Week:
Friday, April 22 at Sioux Falls, W, 4-1
Western Conference Semifinals Schedule:
#4 Sioux Falls Stampede vs. #1 Tri-City Storm
GAME 1: Thursday, April 14, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center) - Tri-City Storm 4, Sioux Falls Stampede 0
GAME 2: Friday, April 15, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center) - Tri-City Storm 4, Sioux Falls Stampede 2
GAME 3: Friday, April 22, 7:05 p.m. (PREMIER CENTER) - Tri-City Storm 4, Sioux Falls Stampede 1
Practice Schedule
Monday, April 25, 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 27, 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 28, 3:00 p.m.
Need to Know:
Crunching the second-round numbers
Over the Storm's 16-year history, the club has advanced to the second round six times - 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016.
This Storm club draws parallels to the 2004 team, which won the Anderson Cup and the regular season division title before going to the team's only Clark Cup Finals. Like 2004, Tri-City won the regular season conference title this season.
In the opening round, the Storm swept a series for the third time (2004, 2015, 2016). Last season, Tri-City swept the Lancers in three games. The Storm is 4-0 in series when winning the first two games.
The Storm beat Sioux Falls for the first time in a Clark Cup Playoff series (1-3).
Clark Cup leaders
By virtue of a dominating sweep, many Storm players are among league leaders in the Clark Cup Playoffs. Dan Labosky is tied for first in assists (5a) and second in points (6 pts).
Goalie Jake Kielly is first in goals against average (1.00) and save percentage (.965). During the sweep, Kielly denied 82 of 85 shots.
Alex Limoges is tied for the most "rookie" points in the league, with four (2g, 2a). Brian Hawkinson and Limoges are equal for the most assists by a rookie.
The Storm averaged 43.0 shots/game in the first round, best of the eight playoff teams. Tri-City attempted at least 40 shots in all three games and allowed 28.3 shots/game.
Dissecting the sweep
A major reason for the Storm's sweep was its play in the second and third periods, where it outscored Sioux Falls, 8-0. No other USHL team played as strongly once the middle frame began.
Runs characterized the Storm's excellence. In the opening game's first period, Tri-City scored the first three goals and won, 4-0, for its first playoff shutout since 2005. In Games 2 and 3, Tri-City scored the last four goals after trailing in the first.
Shots also were essential. Entering the playoffs, the Storm had attempted more than 18 shots in a period twice. In Games 1 and 2, Tri-City had at least 18 shots in a period. During the second period in Game 2, the Storm attempted a season-best 22 shots. The Storm had at least 40 shots on goal in three straight games for the first time this season.
All four forward lines contributed at least one of the Storm's 12 goals. Nineteen skaters suited up for the Storm in the first round and 16 players recorded at least one point. Seven skaters had more than one point. Of the eight Storm players that scored a goal, six tallied their first in the Clark Cup Playoffs.
As the "Hawk" flies
Storm forward Brian Hawkinson earned one assist in Game 2 and Game 3, the first time the high school senior scored a point in consecutive games this season.
Both goals came at key moments. In Game 2, the "Hawk" earned the primary assist on Nico Sturm's third-period insurance goal, the last tally in a 4-2 win. During Game 3, Hawkinson's secondary helper to Max Humitz tied the Storm at one in the second.
Hawkinson's primary role on the Storm is defense and shot blocking, a specialty he says he has gratefully accepted "to help the team win". Tri-City has lost in regulation just once (October 10 vs. Des Moines) in the six games Hawkinson has recorded a point.
The 5-foot-10, 170-lb. native of Aurora, Colorado has a combined one goal and six points between the regular and postseason.
Game Recaps:
Western Conference Semifinals Game 1: Storm steamrolls Stampede behind Kielly's shutout, 4-0
Western Conference Semifinals Game 2: Tri-City overcomes two-goal deficit, 4-2, to take 2-0 series lead
Western Conference Semifinals Game 3: Storm completes sweep against Sioux Falls, 4-1
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