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 Tri-City Storm

Storm Announce Roster for 2021-2022 Season

September 22, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Kearney, NE. - The Tri-City Storm has announced its opening night roster ahead of the 2021-2022 season. The roster includes twenty-seven total players. The roster consists of players on the Storm's twenty-five-man protected list, affiliate list, and injured reserve. The Storm's roster is comprised of sixteen forwards, nine defensemen, and two goaltenders. Tri-City's complete roster can be found online at www.StormHockey.com/StormRoster. The 2021-2022 regular season will be the twenty-second season in the history of the Tri-City Storm organization.

Tri-City begins regular season play Thursday, September 23rd, 2021, at the 2021 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania in a cross-conference matchup against the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Puck drop for the opening game of the season is scheduled for 1:30pm CT. Following the game against Dubuque, Tri-City will face the Madison Capitols at 11:00am CT on Friday, September 24th, 2021. After competing in the Lincoln Stars' Home Opener at the Ice Box on October 1st, the Storm will return home to the Viaero Center for the 2021 Home Opener against the Waterloo Black Hawks. Tri-City led the USHL in average home game attendance during the 2020-2021 season. Tickets to all Storm home games at the Viaero Center can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 308-338-8144 or by visiting www.StormHockey.com.

This year's opening night roster features four NHL draft picks and twenty NCAA DI committed players. The roster consists of five international players, two from Russia, and three from Canada. Twenty-two American born players from fourteen different states complete Tri-City's roster. This year, Tri-City has at least one player from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Minnesota is the most represented state with five players on this year's team hailing from the State of Hockey. Of the twenty-five skaters who make up the Storm's roster, fifteen are left-handed shots and ten are right-handed shots. Tri-City has five 2001 birth year players, ten 2002 birth year players, five 2003 birth year players, five 2004 birth year players, and two 2005 birth year players on this year's team. Thirteen players who made this year's team played in at least one regular season game for Tri-City last season. Of the twenty-seven players on this year's opening night roster, nineteen have played in at least one USHL game in their careers. The average height of a player on this year's team is 6'0'". The average weight of a player on this year's roster is just over one hundred and seventy-seven pounds.

President of Hockey Operations & Head Coach Anthony Noreen of Chicago, Illinois, is back behind the bench for his 5th season with the organization. Noreen was hired on May 26th, 2017, as the eighth Head Coach in team history. Noreen's leadership guided the Storm back to the playoffs in his first season and to its best regular season performance in team history during the 2018-2019 season. The Storm set team records for most wins (45), most points (95), and posted a regular season record of 45-12-3-2. In the postseason, the Storm advanced to the Western Conference Final. Tri-City captured its second Anderson Cup in team history, and Noreen's second Anderson Cup Championship of his career (Youngstown 2015). In addition to winning his second career Anderson Cup Championship, Noreen was awarded USHL Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (Youngstown 2015). He was the first recipient of the USHL's Coach of the Year Award in Tri-City Storm history. After no postseason was held for the 2019-2020 season, Noreen navigated the team back to the Clark Cup Playoffs last season. The team was eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. Twenty-two NHL draft picks have played for Noreen during his tenure with the Storm. Noreen has posted a regular season record of 128-74-16-7 (.628%) in two hundred and twenty-two games behind the bench for Tri-City.

General Manager Jason Koehler, of Prospect, Pennsylvania was hired by the organization on August 28th, 2019, and returns for his 3rd season with the Storm. Koehler served as the Phantoms' General Manager from July 2015 to May 2019 and was on staff in Youngstown for the teams' Tier I record 17 game winning streak and Anderson Cup Championship during the 2014-2015 season. He was the first USHL Executive to have two 1st Round NHL draft picks in the same NHL Draft (2005). Koehler has had over 350 NCAA D1 commitments and more than 50 NHL Draft picks in his management career. He served as the USHL's GM Committee Chair from 2017-2019. His career began in 1998 as a Coaching Staff Assistant/Salary Arbitration Assistant for the Pittsburg Penguins. Jason graduated in less than four years from Robert Morris University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Sports Management in 2000. Koehler was promoted from the role of Assistant General Manager to the role of General Manager on November 19th, 2019.

Assistant Coach Shawn Sramek, of Clarkston, Michigan returns for his 2nd season behind the bench for the Storm after being hired by the organization on September 20th, 2020. Sramek was an Assistant Coach in the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies organization for five seasons prior to joining the Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL) during the 2019-2020 season. He also served as a Video Coach for the Grizzlies' 18U AAA team during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons. Sramek was the Head Scout & Recruiter for the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) for two seasons prior to joining the Corpus Christi IceRays.

Assistant Coach David Nies, of Brookline, Massachusetts, is set to make his regular season debut this week with the Storm after being hired by the organization on August 6th, 2021. Prior to joining the Storm, Nies spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Omaha Lancers. Before joining the Lancers organization in August of 2018, Nies served as an Assistant Coach for the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) during the 2017-2018 season. Nies played four seasons of college hockey at the University of Southern Maine (NCAA DIII) from 2009-2013. Knies served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for Southern Maine during the 2013-2014 season and had coaching stints with Ohio University (ACHA), Curry College (NCAA DIII), and Merrimack College (NCAA DI) following his time with Southern Maine.

Assistant Coach Sam Povorozniouk, of Northbrook, Illinois is set to make his regular season debut this week with the Storm after being hired by the organization on September 7th, 2021. Previously, Povorozniouk launched his coaching career with the Windy City Storm. Povorozniouk completed his junior hockey career in the CHL with the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), Kingston Frontenacs (OHL), Windsor Spitfires (OHL), and Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL). Povorozniouk signed a professional tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) after his time in junior hockey. After his time with the Wolves, Povorozniouk played for the Missouri Mavericks (ECHL) and Elmira Jackals (ECHL) during the 2016-2017 season. He most recently played for Norfolk (ECHL) and Odense (Denmark) during the 2019-2020 season.

Goaltending Coach Matt Zaba, of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, returns for his 5th season with the organization after being hired by the Storm on July 27th, 2017. Zaba coached the USHL's Goaltender of the Year in his first two seasons with the Storm (Filip Larsson 2018, Isaiah Saville 2019). Zaba was drafted 231st overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2003 NHL Draft following a junior hockey career in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Penticton Panthers & Vernon Vipers. Zaba played four years of college hockey with the Colorado College Tigers. His professional hockey career began during the 2007-2008 seasons in the ECHL with Charlotte and Idaho. Zaba made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers on January 23rd, 2010, in a road game against the Montreal Canadiens. Following his professional playing career, Zaba served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Colorado College during the 2016-2017 season before joining the Storm.

Tri-City's forward group consists of sixteen players, nine of whom appeared in at least one game for the Storm last season. The sixteen forwards on this year's opening night roster include one NHL draft pick and ten players who have previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future. The group includes two tender signings (Gavin Brindley, 2020 and Tanner Adams 2021). Cole O'Hara led all Tri-City forwards with two goals during the preseason. Parker Lindauer led all Storm forwards with four assists in the preseason. Jeremy Wilmer and Parker Lindauer tied for the most points recorded during the preseason by a Storm forward with four. Cole O'Hara is Tri-City's leading scorer who returns to the team this season. O'Hara scored eleven goals during last year's regular season campaign. His seventeen assists and twenty-eight points also led all players last season who are returning to this year's team.

#4 Gavin Brindley (5'9'', 157 lbs), of Estero, Florida, returns to this year's team after netting nine goals and recording thirteen assists in his debut season with the Storm last year. Three of Brindley's nine goals were game-winning goals. After signing a tender agreement with the team on March 27th, 2020, Brindley made his USHL debut with the Storm on November 13th, 2020, in Tri-City's 5-1 road loss to the Omaha Lancers. He scored his first career USHL goal on December 11th, 2020, in Tri-City's 4-1 win over the Omaha Lancers at the Viaero Center. Prior to joining the Storm, Brindley scored fifty-six goals and notched fifty-five assists in fifty-three games played during the 2019-2020 season with the Florida Alliance (AAA). Brindley enters the 2021-2022 season uncommitted.

#9 Kieran Cebrian (6'2'', 191 lbs), of Denver, Colorado, returns to this year's team after scoring three goals and registering seven assists in his debut season with the Storm last year. Cebrian made his USHL debut with the Storm on November 7th, 2020, in Tri-City's 4-1 road victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. He scored his first career USHL goal on November 20th, 2020, in Tri-City's 5-2 home loss to the Fargo Force. Prior to joining the Storm, Cebrian scored thirty-three goals and notched sixty-one assists in sixty-two games played with the Colorado Thunderbirds (AAA). Cebrian previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Denver.

#10 Lleyton Roed (5'11'', 164 lbs), of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, is set to make his full-time debut with the team this season after appearing in three games as an affiliate-list callup last year. Roed made his USHL debut with the Storm on April 16th, 2021, in a 4-3 home loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Roed notched an assist on Tri-City's opening goal of the preseason against the Sioux City Musketeers on September 10th, 2021. Last season, Roed scored nine goals and recorded thirteen assists in fifteen games played with White Bear Lake High School (MN). He also appeared in fourteen games with the Minnesota Magicians (NAHL) and scored six goals and recorded seven assists. Roed previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Bemidji State University. Roed wore #21 last season during his three games as an affiliate-list callup and will switch to #10 for this season.

#11 Victor Czerneckianair (5'11'', 167 lbs), of Southington, Connecticut, returns to this year's team after netting five goals and recording three assists in twenty-three games played in his full-time debut season with the Storm last year. Czerneckianair appeared in three games as an affiliate-list callup during the 2019-2020 regular season. He made his USHL debut on November 30th, 2019, in Tri-City's 8-5 road loss to the Lincoln Stars. Czerneckianair notched his first career USHL goal on November 4th, 2020, in the Storm's 3-2 overtime victory over the Lincoln Stars. The goal was the game-winning goal and was scored in overtime. Prior to joining the Storm, Czerneckianair netted forty-five goals and recorded sixty-two assists in sixty-two games played for Mount St. Charles Academy's 18U (AAA) team during the 2019-2020 season. He scored on goal and recorded two assists during the preseason. Czerneckianair previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Quinnipiac University.

#13 Jeremy Wilmer (5'8'', 147 lbs) of Rockville Centre, New York is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being acquired in a trade on August 3rd, 2021. Wilmer appeared in eighty-four games with the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP/Team USA) from 2019-2021. He was the third overall selection in the 2021 USHL Phase II Draft by the Waterloo Black Hawks. Wilmer made his USHL debut on October 11th, 2019, in Team USA's 8-1 home loss to the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He scored his first career USHL goal on November 22nd, 2019, in Team USA's 4-3 overtime victory over the Sioux City Musketeers on home ice. Wilmer previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Boston University.

#16 Josh Eernisse (6'2'', 205 lbs) of Apple Valley, Minnesota, returns to this year's team after scoring one goal and recording six assists in thirty-three games played in his debut season with the Storm last year. Eernisse made his USHL debut on November 7th, 2020, in Tri-City's 5-1 road victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. His first career USHL goal was scored on January 29th, 2021, in the Storm's 6-0 home win over the Omaha Lancers. Prior to joining the Storm, Eernisse scored twenty-one goals and notched thirteen assists in twenty-four games played for Eastview High School (MN) during the 2019-2020 season. Eernisse enters the 2021-2022 season uncommitted.

#19 Cole O'Hara (6'0'', 181 lbs), of Toronto, Ontario, returns to this year's team after netting eleven goals and recording seventeen assists in forty-nine games played for the Storm last season. O'Hara made his USHL debut with Tri-City on November 7th, 2020, in the Storm's 5-1 road victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. He scored his first career USHL goal on January 6th, 2021, in Tri-City's 3-2 shootout loss on the road to the Lincoln Stars. Prior to joining the Storm, O'Hara scored twenty-one goals and notched forty-three assists in fifty-one games with the North York Rangers (OJHL) during the 2019-2020 season. O'Hara previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Massachusetts. O'Hara wore #2 last season and will switch to #19 for this season.

#20 Drew Montgomery (5'11'', 166 lbs) of Grand Forks, North Dakota, returns to this year's team after scoring two goals and registering four assists in twenty-nine games played with the Storm last season. Montgomery made his USHL debut on November 13th, 2020, in Tri-City's 5-1 road loss to the Omaha Lancers. He scored his first career USHL goal on January 29th, 2021, in the Storm's 6-0 home victory over the Omaha Lancers. Prior to joining the Storm, Montgomery scored two goals and recorded nine assists during the 2019-2020 season for the Sioux Falls Power U16 (AAA) organization. Montgomery enters the 2021-2022 season uncommitted. Montgomery wore #67 last season and will switch to #20 for this season.

#21 Parker Lindauer (5'11'', 171 lbs) of Madison, Wisconsin, returns to this year's team after scoring three goals and recording four assists in thirty-five games played last year during his debut season with the Storm. Lindauer made his USHL debut on November 14th, 2020, in Tri-City's 3-2 overtime victory over the Lincoln Stars. Lindauer notched his first career USHL goal on November 21st, 2020, in the Storm's 3-2 overtime win at home over the Fargo Force. Before making his debut with the Storm last season, Lindauer previously skated for the Janesville Jets (NAHL). He scored fourteen goals and recorded seventeen assists in thirty-two games with Janesville during the 2019-2020 season. Lindauer enters the 2021-2022 season uncommitted. Lindauer wore #18 last season and will switch to #21 for this season.

#24 Dane Dowiak (5'10'', 172 lbs) of Wexford, Pennsylvania, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being selected 177th overall by the team in the 12th round of the 2021 USHL Phase II Draft. Dowiak appeared in four of Tri-City's five preseason games. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Dowiak appeared in thirty-three games during the 2019-2020 season for The Gunnery (Prep). He scored fourteen goals and recorded twenty-nine assists for forty-three total points. Dowiak previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Penn State University.

#25 Graham Gamache (5'11'', 174 lbs) of Edmonton, Alberta, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being selected 67th overall by the Storm in the 5th round of the 2020 USHL Phase II Draft. Gamache appeared in four of Tri-City's five preseason games. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Gamache appeared in twenty-one games during the 2020-2021 season for the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL). He scored nine goals and recorded ten assists for nineteen total points last season. Gamache previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Minnesota State University.

#28 August Falloon (6'1'', 191 lbs) of St. Cloud, Minnesota, is set to make his full-time debut with the team this season after appearing in one game last season as an affiliate-list callup. Falloon made his USHL debut for the Storm on April 24th, 2021, in Tri-City's 4-0 road loss to the Omaha Lancers. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Falloon appeared in fifteen games last season for St. Cloud High School (MN). He scored fifteen goals and notched eleven assists for twenty-six total points. Fallon wore #23 during his lone game as an affiliate-list callup last season and will switch to #28 for this season. Falloon enters the 2021-2022 season uncommitted.

#33 Christian Fitzgerald (6'0'', 171 lbs) of Coquitlam, British Columbia, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being selected 13th overall by the team in the 1st round of the 2021 USHL Phase II Draft. Fitzgerald appeared in one game for Tri-City during the preseason. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Fitzgerald appeared in nineteen games last season for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL). He scored thirteen goals and notched twenty assists for thirty-three total points. Fitzgerald previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Minnesota State University.

#39 Tanner Adams (5'11'', 165 lbs) of Northport, New York, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after signing a tender agreement with Tri-City on May 22nd, 2021. Adams appeared in four of Tri-City's five preseason games. He recorded an assist on September 10th, 2021, in the Storm's opening game of the preseason against the Sioux City Musketeers. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Adams appeared in twenty-nine games last season for Mount St. Charles Academy's 15U (AAA) team. He scored nineteen goals and notched twenty-nine assists for forty-eight total points. Adams previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Providence College.

#43 Arvega Hovsepyan (5'8'', 165 lbs) of Los Angeles, California will begin the regular season on Tri-City's injured reserve list. Hovsepyan was acquired by the Storm in a trade as "future considerations" on May 27th, 2021. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Hovsepyan skated in thirty-six games last season for Shattuck St. Mary's 18U (Prep). He scored nineteen goals and recorded twenty-eight assists for forty-seven total points. Hovsepyan previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Michigan State University.

#45 Ilya Nikolayev (6'1'', 188 lbs) of Yaroslavl, Russia, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after joining the team as an invitee to training camp. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Nikolayev last skated for Voronezh Buran (VHL) last season. He scored seven goals and notched six assists in thirty-seven games played. Nikolayev also skated in twenty-one games for Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) last season. Nikolayev was selected 88th overall in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames.

Tri-City's defenseman group consists of nine players, seven of whom have appeared in at least one career USHL regular season game. The nine defenseman on this year's opening night roster includes one NHL draft pick and eight players who have previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future. The group includes two tender signings (Vinny Borgesi, 2020 and Andrew Strathmann 2021). Mitchell Miller led all Tri-City defenseman with three goals during the preseason. Mitchell Miller and Mario Gasparini led all Storm defensemen with two assists in the preseason. Mitchell Miller's five points led all Storm skaters during the preseason. Vinny Borgesi is Tri-City's leading defensive scorer who returns to the team this season. Borgesi scored two goals during last year's regular season campaign. His ten assists and twelve points also led all defensemen last season who are returning to this year's team.

#5 Mason Wheeler ( 6'2'', 192 lbs) of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, returns to this year's team after netting one goal and recording six assists in thirty-nine games last season. Wheeler made his USHL debut on November 7th, 2020, in Tri-City's 5-1 road victory over the Sioux City Musketeers. He scored his first career USHL goal on February 20th, 2021, in the Storm's 5-4 overtime home loss to the Sioux Falls Stampede. Prior to joining the Storm, Wheeler skated in twenty-five games during the 2019-2020 season for Rosemount High School (MN). He scored one goal and notched eleven assists for twelve total points. Wheeler previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Minnesota State University. Wheeler wore #86 last season and will switch to #5 for this season.

#6 Mario Gasparini (5'11'', 168 lbs) of Lakeville, Minnesota, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being acquired in a trade on May 27th, 2021. Gasparini appeared in four of Tri-City's five games during the preseason. He recorded one assist in each of the Storm's final two exhibition games. Gasparini made his USHL debut on November 25th, 2020, for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the team's 4-2 home victory over the Des Moines Buccaneers. He notched four assists in thirty-six games played last season. Gasparini previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Vermont.

#15 John Druskinis (6'1'', 175 lbs) of Plymouth, Michigan, is set to make his regular season debut with the Storm after being acquired in a trade on May 27th, 2021. Druskinis appeared in three of the Storm's five preseason games. Last season, Druskinis netted one goal and recorded two assists in thirty-two games played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Druskinis made his USHL debut on December 6th, 2019, in Muskegon's 5-2 road loss to the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He scored his first career USHL goal on January 9th, 2021, in Muskegon's 4-2 road loss to the Green Bay Gamblers. Druskinis previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Michigan.

#17 Nate Benoit (6'1'', 181 lbs) of Bow, New Hampshire, is set to make his full-time regular season debut with the Storm after appearing in three games last season as an affiliate-list callup. Benoit appeared in three of the Storm's five preseason games. He scored a goal and recorded one assist in the Storm's exhibition game against the Lincoln Stars on September 12th, 2021. Benoit made his USHL debut on April 1st, 2021, in Tri-City's 5-1 road victory over the Des Moines Buccaneers. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of North Dakota. Benoit was selected 182nd overall in the 6th round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He wore #28 during his three games as an affiliate-list callup last season and will switch to #17 for this season.

#22 Vinny Borgesi (5'8'', 171 lbs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, returns to this year's team after scoring two goals and recording ten assists last season in forty-nine games played for the Storm last season. Borgesi was signed by Tri-City to a tender agreement on March 31st, 2020. He made his USHL debut with the team on November 7th, 2020, in the Storm's 5-1 road win over the Sioux City Musketeers. Borgesi netted his first career USHL goal on December 15th, 2020, in Tri-City's 4-2 road loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Northeastern University. Borgesi wore #13 during his debut season with the Storm and will switch to #22 for this season.

#27 Andrew Strathmann (5'11'', 174 lbs) of Beach Park, Illinois, is set for his debut season with the Storm after signing a tender agreement with the organization on November 18th, 2020. Strathmann was one of three players to appear in all five of the Storm's preseason games. He scored the opening goal of the exhibition schedule on September 10th, 2021, in the team's game against the Sioux City Musketeers. Prior to joining the Storm this season, Strathmann skated for the Chicago Young Americans (AAA) organization last season. He scored twenty-two goals and recorded thirty-four assists for fifty-six total points in sixty games played for the team last year. Strathmann previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at the University of North Dakota.

#41 Mitchell Miller, (5'11'', 186 lbs) of Sylvania, Ohio, returns to this year's team after appearing in forty-four games for the Storm during the 2019-2020 season. Miller scored eight goals and recorded twenty-five assists for thirty-three total points in forty-four games played. He was named the USHL's "Defenseman of the Week" four times during the same season. He represented Tri-City in the 2020 BioSteel All-American Game in Plymouth, Michigan. Miller was selected 111th overall in the 4th round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes later renounced their rights to the pick. Miller wore #92 for the Storm during the 2019-2020 season and will switch to #41 for this season.

#42 Aiden Dubinsky (6'0'', 183 lbs) of Highland Park, Illinois is set to make his regular season debut for the Storm after being acquired in a trade on August 24th, 2021. Dubinsky skated in forty-nine games last season with the Omaha Lancers. He scored one goal and notched eleven assists for twelve total points. Dubinsky made his USHL debut on November 13th, 2020, in Omaha's 5-1 home win over the Tri-City Storm. He scored his first career USHL goal on January 3rd, 2021, in Omaha's 5-2 road loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Dubinsky previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

#45 Shaun McEwen (6'0'', 189 lbs) of Hadley, Massachusetts, is set to make his regular season debut for the Storm after being selected 40th overall by Tri-City in the 3rd round of the 2020 USHL Phase I Draft. McEwen appeared in twenty-five games last season for the Seacoast Performance Academy's 16U (AAA) team. McEwen scored seven goals and recorded ten assists for the Spartans' offense. He also skated in two games with the Maine Nordiques (NAHL) during the 2020-2021 season. McEwen previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Massachusetts.

Tri-City's goaltender group consists of two players, both of whom were selected at the 2021 NHL Draft. Both goaltenders also boast NCAA commitments. Each split games during the exhibition schedule. Tri-City is the only team in the USHL this season to feature two NHL drafted players at the goaltender position. Each of the last two seasons that the league has played a full-length regular season schedule, a Tri-City Storm goaltender has captured the USHL's "Goaltender of the Year" award.

#32 Chase Clark (6'6", 201 lbs) of Williamsville, New York returns to the team this season after appearing in net for Tri-City in three games last season as an Emergency Backup Goaltender. Clark dressed as the backup goaltender in each of the Storm's three games during the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs. Clark made his USHL debut in net for Tri-City on April 18th, 2021, in Tri-City's 4-2 home loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Prior to joining the Storm at the end of last season, Clark won a Dineen Cup Championship as the starting goaltender for the Jersey Hitmen (NCDC). Clark posted an 18-2-1 record in twenty-two regular season appearances for the Hitmen. He recorded a Goals Against Average (GAA) of 1.92 and a Save Percentage (SV%) or .935%. Following his regular season, Clark produced a perfect postseason record to backstop the Hitmen to a postseason title. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Quinnipiac University. Clark was selected 183rd overall in the 6th round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals. Clark wore #31 during his time in net last season for the Storm and will switch to #32 for this season.

#35 Arsenii Sergeev (6'4'', 192 lbs) of Yaroslavl, Russia, is set to make his regular season debut with Tri-City after being selected 4th overall by the Storm in the 1st round of the 2021 USHL Phase II Draft. Sergeev spent last season with the Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL). He made twenty regular season appearances in goal for the Mudbugs and posted a 14-4-2 record. He also recorded a Goals Against Average (GAA) of 2.17 and a Save Percentage (SV%) of .936%. He recorded a loss in net in his only postseason appearance for the Mudbugs. Sergeev also appeared in four games last season for the New Jersey Rockets (NCDC). Prior to joining the Storm organization, Sergeev made his USHL debut on November 15th, 2019, for the Sioux Falls Stampede in a 5-2 road loss to the Sioux City Musketeers. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Connecticut. Sergeev was selected 205th overall in the 7th round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames.

The 2021-2022 regular season will be the twenty-second in the history of the Tri-City Storm and the organization will be in search of its third Anderson Cup Championship and second Clark Cup Championship. The Storm captured the 2003-2004 Anderson Cup title after posting a 43-12-1-4 record in the regular season. Tri-City also won an Anderson Cup in 2018-2019 with a regular season record of 45-12-3-2. After posting a regular season record of 28-15-10-7 in the 2015-2016 season, the Storm captured the first Clark Cup Championship in organization history in the postseason. Through the first twenty-one seasons of play, Tri-City has posted an overall regular season record of 587-530-67-59 (.523%). This year's season-opening game will be the 1,244th regular season game in the history of the organization. Last season, Tri-City led all USHL's organizations with an average home attendance of 2,274 during the regular season. The Storm's total attendance of 59,114 last year was also the most of any organization in the USHL.

"Storm hockey is back and we are excited to welcome the best fans in the USHL back to the Viaero Center! The support last season and this offseason has been tremendous. We have a lot to look forward to on and off the ice. Go Storm!"- Tri-City Storm Vice President of Business Operations/Viaero Center General Manager Mike Lucas

"We're excited about this group we have representing the Tri Cities and wearing the Storm logo this season. They had a productive offseason which was reflected in our preseason testing and have been receptive to everything we've thrown at them so far. The returning players had the luxury of learning from some of the best leaders I've ever been around and now is their turn to pay it forward to our newcomers. As a staff we look forward to helping develop this group."- President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen

"We are proud and excited to enter the season with this year's version of the Tri-City Storm. We had a heated battle through training camp and our preseason games and feel confident this version of the Storm is our best product and will be enjoyed by our fans this season with our talent and depth at all positions. We have a strong mix of returning players, USHL experienced veterans, junior hockey experienced players, and young fresh blood that will be ready to play when inserted into our lineup. Thank you to our ownership group for providing us the resources to be a competitive club and we can't wait to kick off the season in Pittsburgh this week before returning home to Kearney to our fans for our home opener on October 8th."- General Manager Jason Koehler


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