Sports stats



USHL Tri-City Storm

Saint Lawrence at Penn State: the Tri-City Storm's Version of #TBT

October 28, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Kearney, Ne. - Saint Lawrence Men's Hockey Captain Brian Ward shares a special connection with the Tri-City Storm, the team he captained during 2012-13.

"I learned how to be a leader," said Ward. "You learn what it's like to have the eyes of the community on you."

He comprises a small group of players competing in Saint Lawrence's Thursday and Friday matchup against Penn State that can make the same boast.

Three former Storm captains - Kenny Brooks, Nolan Gluchowski and Ward - are slated to play, part of a clique of seven Tri-City alums on either St. Lawrence's or Penn State's 2015-16 roster.

The battle lines are drawn somewhat evenly. The Nittany Lions have four former Storm players - Brooks, Chase Berger, Kevin Kerr and Vince Pedrie. The Saints boast three, including two of the former captains - Gluchowski, Ward, and Christian Horn.

Besides the captains, Penn State's Berger was an Assistant Captain last season with the Storm. Saint Lawrence's Horn wore an "A" with Tri-City in 2013-14.

"It's going to be pretty cool," said Brooks, a senior at Penn State. "It's always different playing against them."

Brooks is the oldest of the bunch; the 23-year-old spent three seasons in Kearney beginning in 2009. The high-scoring forward set off the string of former Storm players to participate in this week's matchup. In 2010-11, Brooks teamed up with Brian Ward, at that time a first-year USHL forward. At least three current Penn State or Saint Lawrence players were on the Storm every year from 2011-15. Four current Nittany Lions or Saints played for Tri-City every season from 2011-14.

Brooks, captain of the 2011-12 Tri-City team, also began a stretch of three straight Storm captains that have wound up at University Park, PA or Canton, NY.

"It got me ready for what I'm doing now," said Brooks. "You learn how to mentally take care of yourself."

"I had buddies that helped prepare me for what it would be like [in the USHL]," said Gluchowski, the Storm's captain in 2013-14. "I learned how much time you spend at the rink."

Gluchowski stands out as a poster boy for the USHL's developmental track. At the end of 2011-12, the native of Wixom, MI jumped from Detroit Catholic Central, a small private school located 30 minutes outside of the Motor City in Novi, MI, to Kearney. While with the Storm for parts of three seasons, the smooth-skating defenseman rose from affiliate player to leader of a team embedded in the framework of a Central Nebraska community.

For players, moving to a different part of the country sometimes combines with the adjustment to a hockey-as-work lifestyle. Living in the Tri-Cities region can be a change for groups of teenagers travelling from hockey hot beds around the USA.

"You're kind of a local celebrity in Kearney," explained the Havehill, MA native Ward. "At Saint Lawrence Men's Hockey is the only Division I sport so I feel it, too."

Ward cites the physicality and speed of the USHL as a teaching point for what he's experienced in the college game.

"It's always funny and good to see how guys develop at different rates," said Ward, Tri-City's Captain in 2012-13. "It's interesting to see how guys progress in the USHL and at the college game. You're with your team eight to 12 hours a day, but then you separate yourself and go to school. It's fun to catch up."

There's also the competitiveness of lining up against former Storm teammates.

"You're still playing hard but if you have to hit them you both just kind of smile," said Brooks.

"You give it a little extra push," said Ward, chuckling after.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central