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USHL Tri-City Storm

Cole McWard Named USHL Defenseman of the Week

February 10, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Tri-City Storm defenseman Cole McWard
Tri-City Storm defenseman Cole McWard
(Tri-City Storm)

Kearney, NE. - Tri-City Storm defenseman Cole McWard has been named the USHL's Defenseman of the Week. McWard led all Storm players with four goals in this past weekend's series split against the Sioux Falls Stampede. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Friday to give Tri-City a 5-4 victory. On Saturday, McWard scored all three of the Storm's goals in the game to record his first career Hat Trick. McWard became the first defenseman to score three power-play goals in a single game in the Storm's twenty-one season history.

Cole McWard, 19, of Fenton, Missouri was drafted by the Storm 80th overall in the 5th Round of the 2017 USHL Phase I draft and made his USHL debut during the 2017-2018 regular season as an affiliate list callup. He scored his 1st career USHL goal on November 9th, 2018 in Tri-City's 1-0 road defeat of the Omaha Lancers. McWard has skated with Storm in over one hundred and twenty USHL games and has provided the Tri-City offense with nineteen goals, twenty-six assists, and forty-five points. Prior to joining the Storm, McWard skated for Westminster Christian Academy in Town and Country, Missouri. He also skated for the St. Louis Blues AAA program in St. Louis, Missouri. McWard scored three game-winning goals for the Storm last season, including two overtime goals. He netted a goal in Tri-City's opening game of the 2020-2021 season, a 5-1 road victory over the Sioux City Musketeers on November 7th. He is currently the Western Conference's scoring leader among all defensemen. McWard previously announced a commitment to play college hockey at Ohio State University.

"It feels amazing to be named the USHL's Defenseman of the Week. It is my first time winning it during my time in the USHL and it definitely has been a goal of mine for some time to win that. I thought that individually my offensive production was great to have and something I want to continue to bring to the table. At the same time, I have some areas in my all-around game that I would have liked to clean up this weekend. I feel the same for the team, we played well at times, but did not reach our full potential for the duration of the two games. We will learn from it and correct those flaws for this upcoming weekend. We have a really deep D core and I am surrounded by great players on the back end. Tri-City has a really high standard for how we defend. Keeping our focus on our own end first allows us to limit those chances and maximize our time in the offensive zone." - Defenseman Cole McWard

"Cole is someone that can be in consideration for this award every week. His growth over the last two plus years serves as a great example of what this league can provide to a young man who is consistent in their effort and their attitude no matter what comes his way. Cole has been a great player for us this year and an even better teammate." - President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen

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Tri-City Storm defenseman Cole McWard
Tri-City Storm defenseman Cole McWard
   



United States Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2021


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