USHL Tri-City Storm

Storm Completes Phase II of 2016 USHL Draft, Taking High-End Talent at the Top

Published on May 3, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


The Tri-City Storm has completed the 2016 Phase II USHL Draft, selecting 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.

The Storm's first two picks are high-end, skilled talents. With the 12th overall selection, the Storm picked forward Charlie Kelleher in the first round of the 2016 USHL Phase II Draft. Next, in the second round at 28th overall, Tri-City selected Swedish-born forward Linus Weissbach.

Kelleher, 19, has played for the Boston Jr. Bruins since 2012. the 5-foot-8, 185-lb. forward led the team with 36 assists and finished second accumulating 53 points.

"I am definitely so excited about joining the Storm organization and this league," said Kelleher. "I've heard so many great things about Coach Muckalt."

Kelleher's 21-year-old brother, Tyler, played for the U.S. National Development Team Program from 2011-2013 and recently completed his junior season at New Hampshire, finishing second on the team with 46 points this season.

"We are really excited to bring Charlie on with the Storm," said Bill Muckalt, Storm Head Coach and General Manager. "We look forward to working with Charlie. He's going to be an offensive catalyst."

Weissbach is 5-foot-9, 154 pounds and from the famed hockey town of Gothenburg, Sweden, which has produced 12 NHL players including Daniel Alfredsson and Loui Eriksson. This season, playing for Frolunda HC's J20 club, Weissbach scored 17 goals and 48 points in 44 games. He is rated the 94th-overall European skater for this summer's NHL Draft, according to NHL Central Scouting.

Tri-City turned to defense with its next two selections in rounds four and five, selecting Michigan-born defenseman Nick Azar 64th overall and Latvian Gvido Jansons at 71st. Both are 6-foot-3 and weigh more than 200 pounds.

In the sixth and 11th rounds, the Storm picked a pair of goalies; Jonah Giem and Carleton Boothe. Giem, 17, played for the Colorado Thunderbirds this past season, the same program current Storm goalie Dayton Rasmussen netminded for.

Tri-City also picked some players with unique family connections to hockey. Defenseman Blake Coffey, selected in the 13th round, is the son of NHL Hall-of-Fame defenseman Paul Coffey. In the 15th round the Storm picked defenseman Olle Klingberg, the younger brother of NHLers Carl and John.

Steve Avalone (18th round) and Zach McClenahan (21st round) are products of the Las Vegas Storm, a club owned by Tri-City Owner, Kirk Brooks.

1st round, 12th overall: Charlie Kelleher

Position: Forward

Height: 5-8

Weight: 185

Birthdate: February 4, 1997 (19 years old)

Hometown: Longmeadow, Massachusetts

2015-16 Stats: Boston Jr. Bruins (38GP, 17G, 36A, 53PTS)

Kelleher Stats

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2rd round, 28th overall: Linus Weissbach

Position: Forward

Height: 5-9

Weight: 154

Birthdate: April 19, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden

2015-16 Stats: Frolunda HC J20 (44GP, 17G, 31A, 48PTS)

Weissbach Stats

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4th round, 64th overall: Nick Azar

Position: Defenseman

Height: 6-3

Weight: 203

Birthdate: February 12, 1997 (19 years old)

Hometown: Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

2015-16 Stats: Surrey Eagles (49GP, 2G, 12A, 48PTS)

Azar Stats

5th round, 71th overall: Gvido Jansons

Position: Defenseman

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Birthdate: January 10, 1997 (19 years old)

Hometown: Grobina, Latvia

2015-16 Stats: Aston Rebels (47GP, 7G, 13A, 20PTS)

Jansons Stats

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6th round, 94th overall: Jonah Giem

Position: Goalie

Height: 6-2

Weight: 144

Birthdate: April 7, 1999 (17 years old)

Hometown: Littleton, Colorado

2015-16 Stats: Colorado Thunderbirds 16U (17 GP, 14-2 record, 0.95 GAA, .947 SV%, 9 SO)

Giem Stats

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7th round, 101st overall: Tyler Ward

Position: Forward

Height: 5-9

Weight: 153

Birthdate: August 19, 1999 (16 years old)

Hometown: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

2015-16 Stats: Merritt Centennials (52GP, 17G, 10A, 27PTS)

Ward Stats

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8th round, 130th overall: Christoffer Karlsen

Position: Forward

Height: 5-9

Weight: 165

Birthdate: August 24, 1998 (17 years old)

Hometown: Sarpsborg, Norway

2015-16 Stats: HV71 (16GP, 7G, 11A, 18PTS)

Karlsen Stats

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9th round, 146th overall: Philip Alftberg

Position: Defenseman

Height: 5-8

Weight: 165

Birthdate: January 19, 1997 (19 years old)

Hometown: Marsta, Sweden

2015-16 Stats: Brynas IF J20 (45GP, 3G, 18A, 21PTS)

Alftberg Stats

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10th round, 162th overall: Aaron Maguyon

Position: Forward

Height: 5-8

Weight: 184

Birthdate: May 15, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Galloway, New Jersey

2015-16 Stats: Philadelphia Revolution (41GP, 14G, 23A, 37PTS)

Maguyon Stats

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11th round, 178th overall: Carleton Boothe

Position: Goalie

Height: 5-10

Weight: 146

Birthdate: August 5, 1998 (17 years old)

Hometown: Delray Beach, Florida

2015-16 Stats: Fairbanks Ice Dogs (18GP, 13-3-2 record, 2.16 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO)

Boothe Stats

12th round, 194th overall: Adam Peck

Position: Forward

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

Birthdate: March 31, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Williston, Vermont

2015-16 Stats: Selects Academy 18U (26GP, 17G, 31A, 48PTS)

Peck Stats

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13th round, 210th overall: Blake Coffey

Position: Defense

Height: 5-11

Weight: 180

Birthdate: January 27, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2015-16 Stats: Newmarket (17GP, 1G, 5A, 6PTS)

Coffey Stats

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14th round, 226th overall: Blais Richartz

Position: Forward

Height: 5-8

Weight: 174

Birthdate: June 23, 2000 (15 years old)

Hometown: Menomonie, Wisconsin

2015-16 Stats: Menomonie HS (24 GP, 24G, 23A, 47PTS)

Richartz Stats

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15th round, 242nd overall: Olle Klingberg

Position: Defense

Height: 5-10

Weight: 174

Birthdate: October 17, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden

2015-16 Stats: Frolunda HC J20 (30GP, 0G, 6A, 6PTS)

Klingberg Stats

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16th round, 258th overall: Joel Craven

Position: Defense

Height: 5-7

Weight: 113

Birthdate: June 26, 2000 (15 years old)

Hometown: Whitefish, Montana

2015-16 Stats: Calgary Stampeders (32GP, 7G, 16A, 23PTS)

Craven Stats

17th round, 274th overall: Daniel DeBlouw

Position: Forward

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170

Birthdate: February 3, 1998 (18 years old)

Hometown: Chesterfield, Michigan

2015-16 Stats: Little Caesars (22GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS)

Deblouw Stats

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18th round, 290th overall: Steven Avalone

Position: Defense

Height: 5-8

Weight: 136

Birthdate: December 31, 1999 (16 years old)

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

2015-16 Stats: Las Vegas Jr. Storm (5GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS)

Avalone Stats

19th round, 306th overall: Sammy Nardicchio

Position: Forward

Height: 6-1

Weight: 205

Birthdate: March 25, 1996 (20 years old)

Hometown: Commerce, Michigan

2015-16 Stats: Islanders HC (38GP, 6G, 6A, 12PTS)

Nardicchio Stats

20th round, 322th overall: Nicolas Grimaldi

Position: Forward

Height: 5-8

Weight: 170

Birthdate: June 25, 1999 (16 years old)

Hometown: Plymouth, Michigan

2015-16 Stats: Victory Honda (32GP, 7G, 8A, 15PTS)

Grimaldi Stats

21st round, 338th overall: Zachary McClenahan

Position: Forward

Height: 5-7

Weight: 141

Birthdate: December 31, 1999 (16 years old)

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

2015-16 Stats: Las Vegas Storm

McClenahan Stats

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If you're heading to Waterloo for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Clark Cup Western Conference Finals, make sure to say you're with the 'Tri-City Storm Group' for a discounted ticket. Ticket rates are $8 for a blue seat or $10 for a white seat, call their box office at 319-232-3444 to buy tickets.

Game 3 is set for Friday, May 6 at 7:05 p.m. in Waterloo at Young Arena. Game 4 is Saturday, May 7 at 7:05 p.m., if necessary, in Waterloo.

The Storm is home for Game 5, if necessary, on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City postseason games can be heard on The Breeze 94.5 FM - kliqfm.com. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. for games one and two with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show.

Western Conference Finals Schedule:

#3 Waterloo Black Hawks vs. #1 Tri-City Storm

GAME 1: Friday, April 29, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center) - Tri-City 4, Waterloo 0

GAME 2: Saturday, April 30, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center) - Waterloo 3, Tri-City 1

GAME 3: Friday, May 6, 7:05 p.m. (Young Arena)

GAME 4: Saturday, May 7, 7:05 p.m. (Young Arena)

GAME 5: Tuesday, May 10, 7:05 p.m. (Viaero Center) - if necessary

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 3, 2016


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