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USHL Tri-City Storm

Ten Players with Ties to Storm Named to Scouting List

October 27, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


KEARNEY, NE. - Ten players with ties to the Tri-City Storm organization were recently named to the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL Draft. The list includes five active players, four affiliate-list players, and one former player. Players with ties to the Storm organization who made the list were current players Trevor Connelly, Alexander Bales, Phillipe Blais-Savoie, Cameron Korpi, and Nolan Roed. Also named to the recently announced list were Storm prospects Jack Pridham, Carson Pilgrim, Logan Sawyer, and Colton Whitfield. A Storm alumnus who was included in the ranking was Tanner Adams.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau is a collection of NHL staff and scouts who rank prospects for the NHL Draft as a service to the 32 member clubs. In this initial "Players to Watch" list, players are given an "A", "B", "C", "W", or "LV" rating. A player with an "A" rating indicates a 1st Round candidate. A player who is given a "B" rating is judged by the bureau to be a candidate for the 2nd or 3rd Round. A player given a "C" rating indicates a 4th, or 5th Round candidate, and a player given a "W" rating has been judged to be a candidate for the 6th or 7th Round. An "LV" rating (Limited Viewing) is reserved for injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized. With each updated ranking this season, players will be added or removed from the list based on their performance throughout the 2023-2024 season. A player not ranked by the service may still be drafted by an NHL member club, provided the player is eligible to be drafted.

Three players with ties to the Storm organization were selected at the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2019 NHL Draft held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the 2022 NHL Draft held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, share the record for the drafts with the most Storm players selected, as seven players with ties to the organization were drafted in each event. Seventy-two players with ties to the Tri-City Storm organization have been selected in the NHL Draft, thirty-three of whom were coached by current Storm Head Coach Anthony Noreen. Thirty-five former Storm players have gone on to play in an NHL game, and three former Tri-City players have won a Stanley Cup Championship.

Trevor Connelly, 17, Forward, of Tustin, California, was given an "A" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He has netted three goals and notched eleven assists for fourteen total points in ten games played so far this season for the Storm. Connelly netted two goals and recorded two assists in three appearances for Tri-City in the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. He scored twenty-four goals and notched twenty-three assists for forty-seven total points in fifty-seven regular season games during his debut season for Tri-City last year. Connelly officially joined the organization by signing a tender agreement to play for the team on March 14th, 2022. He made his USHL debut with the Storm on September 22nd, 2022, in Tri-City's 4-1 win over the Madison Capitols at the 2022 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Connelly scored the first goal of his USHL career the next night in the Storm's 6-4 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the team's final game of the season-opening event. Connelly currently leads all Storm players in assists (11, points (14), and shots (34) for the 2023-2024 regular season. He previously skated for the Long Island Gulls (AAA, Syosset, New York), Anaheim Jr. Ice Dogs (AAA, Anaheim, California), and San Diego Saints (AA, La Mesa, California) prior to his time with the Storm. Connelly skated in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup for USA Hockey, and also participated in the prestigious USA Hockey BioSteel Boys 17 National Festival June 22nd-June 28th, 2023, in Amherst, New York. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Providence College.

Alexander Bales, 17, Defenseman, of East Amherst, New York, was given a "W" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. Bales has notched three assists this season in ten games played for the Storm. He skated in eight games last season as an affiliate-list callup. Bales was selected 56th overall by the Storm in the 2022 USHL Phase I Draft. He made his debut for the organization on November 18th, 2022, in Tri-City's 4-3 shootout victory over the Des Moines Buccaneers at the Viaero Center. Bales netted the first goal of his USHL career on April 22nd, 2023, in the Storm's 5-3 home win over the Lincoln Stars at the Viaero Center. He has appeared in eighteen career games with Tri-City to this point in his career. Bales has scored one goal, and notched three assists, for four total points. He currently leads all Storm defenders with nineteen shots on goal this season. Bales skated for the Kent School Lions (Prep, Kent, Connecticut), Yale Jr. Bulldogs (AAA, New Haven, Connecticut), and Buffalo Jr. Sabres (AAA, Buffalo, New York) prior to his time with the Storm. He skated in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup for USA Hockey, and also participated in the prestigious USA Hockey BioSteel Boys 17 National Festival June 22nd-June 28th, 2023, in Amherst, New York. Bales previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Providence College.

Philippe Blais-Savoie, 18, Defenseman, of San Jose, California, was given a "W" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. Blais-Savoie has scored one goal and recorded one assist for two total points in ten games played for the Storm this season. He appeared in all four of the team's games during the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. Blais-Savoie notched two points during the Storm's postseason run last season. He scored two goals, and notched nine assists, for eleven total points during his debut campaign with the team last year. Blais-Savoie has appeared in seventy-one career games for the Storm. He has netted three goals, and recorded ten assists, for thirteen career points. Blais-Savoie was selected 70th overall by Tri-City in the 5th round of the 2021 USHL Phase I Draft. He made his USHL debut with the Storm on September 22nd, 2022, in Tri-City's 4-1 win over the Madison Capitols at the 2022 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Blais-Savoie netted his first career goal with the organization on October 15th, 2022, in the Storm's 6-3 home loss to the Lincoln Stars at the Viaero Center. He skated for the Valley Christian High Warriors (HS, San Jose, California) and the San Jose Jr. Sharks (AAA, San Jose, California) prior to joining the Storm. Blais-Savoie was ranked 122nd overall among North American Skaters in the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's Final Rankings list for the 2023 NHL Draft. He skated in the prestigious USA Hockey BioSteel Boys 17 National Festival June 22nd-June 27th, 2022, in Amherst, New York. Blais-Savoie previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Colorado College.

Cameron Korpi, 19, Goaltender, of South Lyon, Michigan, was given a "W" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. Korpi has produced a perfect 7-0-0-0 record in net for the Storm to this point in the 2023-2024 regular season. He appeared in all four of the team's games during the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. Korpi notched a record of 13-4-3-0 during the 2022-2023 regular season for Tri-City. He was acquired by the Storm on January 25th, 2023, in a transaction with the Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL). Korpi was selected 86th overall by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 6th round of the 2020 USHL Phase I Draft. He made his USHL debut for the United States National Team Development Program (Team USA) on February 21st, 2021. USA dropped that contest on home ice to the Chicago Steel by a final score of 4-3 in overtime. Korpi recorded his first career USHL victory in net for Team USA on April 23rd, 2021, in USA's 7-4 road win over the Youngstown Phantoms. His first career USHL shutout also came against the Phantoms in a game played on January 22nd, 2022. Korpi backstopped the Muskegon Lumberjacks to victory in the 4-0 win. He collected two USHL Goaltender of the Week Awards through the opening month of the 2023-2024 regular season. Korpi has posted an overall record of 20-4-3-0 since joining the Storm last season. Prior to his time in the USHL, he played for the Bismark Bobcats (NAHL, Bismark, North Dakota), Little Caesars (AAA, Detroit, Michigan), and Honeybaked (AAA, Farmington Hills, Michigan) organizations. He participated in the prestigious USA Hockey BioSteel Boys 17 National Festival June 22nd-June 27th, 2022, in Amherst, New York. Korpi was ranked 20th overall among North American Goaltenders in the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's Final Rankings list for the 2023 NHL Draft. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Western Michigan University.

Nolan Roed, 18, Forward, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was given a "W" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. Roed has netted four goals, and recorded three assists, for seven total points in ten games played for the Storm during his debut season. He was selected 71st overall by Tri-City in the 5th Round of the 2022 USHL Phase II Draft. Roed made his USHL debut with the organization on September 20th, 2023, in the Storm's 2-1 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms in the opening game of the season at the 2023 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Roed scored the first goal of his USHL career during the 1st period of the same game. He spent last season on the Storm's affiliate list, and skating for White Bear Lake (HS, White Bear Lake, Minnesota). Roed scored twenty-four goals, and recorded thirty-one assists, for fifty-five total points with the team last season. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for St. Cloud State University.

Tanner Adams, 18, Forward, of Northport, New York was given a "C" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He is the only former Storm player who is currently playing NCAA Division I hockey to make the list. Adams is in his freshman season at Providence College. He has netted two goals, and recorded four assists, for six total points in five games played. He appeared in one hundred and eleven career regular season games with Tri-City from 2021-2023. Adams skated for the Storm during each of the team's postseason runs during the 2022 & 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. He was a member of Tri-City's 2021-2022 Anderson Cup Championship winning team. Adams also appeared in two games for the United States National Team Development Program (Team USA) during his USHL career. He officially joined the organization by signing a tender agreement on May 22nd, 2021. Adams played his first career USHL game with the Storm on September 23rd, 2021, in the Storm's 3-2 overtime victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the 2021 DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic at the Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. He scored his first career USHL goal on October 22nd, 2021, in the Storm's 6-4 road loss to the Sioux City Musketeers at the Tyson Events Center. Adams finished his USHL career with twenty-four goals, and forty-one assists, for sixty-five total points. He scored twice in three games for the United States at the 2021 Five Nations Tournament in Visp, Switzerland. The United States team finished 1st place in the event. Adams also notched two goals in four games played for the 2022 United States Under-18 Men's Select Team at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta. Prior to joining the Storm for the 2021-2022 season, Adams skated for Mount St. Charles Academy (AAA, Woonsocket, Rhode Island), Portledge School (Prep, Locust Valley, New York), and Long Island Royals (AAA, Kings Park, New York). He was ranked 101st overall among North American Skaters in the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's Final Rankings list for the 2023 NHL Draft.

Jack Pridham, 18, Forward, of Stouffville, Ontario, was given a "B" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He was the highest-rated Storm prospect to be included in the rankings. Pridham was selected 26th overall by Tri-City in the 2nd Round of the 2022 USHL Phase II Draft. Pridham is currently on the Storm's affiliate list, and is skating this season for the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL, West Kelowna, British Columbia). He has scored six goals, and recorded three assists, for nine total points in twelve games played for the team to this point in the 2023-2024 regular season. Pridham spent the two previous seasons with St. Andrew's College (CAHS, Aurora, Ontario). He scored thirty-five goals, and notched thirty-seven assists, for seventy-two total points during the 2022-2023 regular season. Pridham also previously skated for the Markham Waxers (AAA, Markham, Ontario), Toronto Nationals (AAA, Toronto, Ontario), and Mississauga Rebels (AAA, Mississauga, Ontario). He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Boston University.

Carson Pilgrim, 17, Forward, of Warroad, Minnesota, was given a "C" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He is one of three Storm prospects to be included in the rankings. Pilgrim was selected 18th overall by the Storm in the 2nd Round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. He scored fifty-two goals, and recorded forty-assists, for ninety-two total points in thirty-one games played last season for Warroad High (HS, Warroad, Minnesota). He also skated in three games last season for the United States National Team Development Program (Team USA). Pilgrim scored seventeen goals, and notched fourteen assists, for thirty-one total points in thirty-one games played for Warroad during the 2021-2022 regular season. He participated in the prestigious USA Hockey BioSteel Boys 17 National Festival June 22nd-June 28th, 2023, in Amherst, New York. Pilgrim previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at the University of North Dakota.

Logan Sawyer, 17, Forward, of Orangeville, Ontario, was given a "C" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He is currently on the Storm's affiliate list, and is skating this season with the Brooks Bandits (AJHL, Brooks, Alberta). Sawyer has netted eight goals, and recorded seven assists, for fifteen total points in fifteen games this season for the Bandits. He appeared in fifty-one games last season for Stanstead College Varsity (CAHS, Stanstead, Quebec). Sawyer scored thirty-eight goals, and recorded thirty-eight assists, for seventy-six total points. He also played for the Vaughan Kings (AAA, Vaughan, Ontario). Sawyer previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Providence College.

Colton Whitfield, 17, Defenseman, of Warwick, Rhode Island, was given a "W" rating by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau on the Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He was selected 178th overall by the Storm in the 12th Round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. Whitfield is on Tri-City's affiliate list, and is set to skate for Mount St. Charles Academy's 18U team this season (AAA, Woonsocket, Rhode Island). He netted nine goals and recorded seventeen assists for twenty-six total points during the 2021-2022 regular season for the Cape Cod Whalers (AAA, Scituate, Massachusetts. Whitfield also previously skated for Bishop Hendricken High (HS, Warwick, Rhode Island), and the South Shore Kings (AAA, Foxborough, Massachusetts). Whitfield was the lone defenseman among the Storm's affiliate list players to be included on the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's initial list for this year's NHL Draft.

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