USHL Tri-City Storm

Tri-City Hits Halfway Mark in Playoff Position

January 4, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


Kearney, Ne. - Halfway through the 2015-16 season, the Tri-City Storm ranks third in the division and is on its best ten-game stretch, garnering points in nine of ten after beating Lincoln and forcing a shootout against Des Moines this weekend.

Alex Limoges had his best weekend of the campaign, picking up four points (2g, 2a). Goaltender Jake Kielly savored his second shutout of the season against the Stars in a 4-0 win Friday at the Ice Box.

This Thursday, Storm players and coaches will be at First National Bank in Columbus, NE to hold a meet-and-greet event for Sammy's Superheroes Foundation, a Nebraska-based pediatric cancer organization.

The Storm faces a crucial mid-season test against the Waterloo Black Hawks this Friday and Saturday. Waterloo trails Tri-City by two points for third place in the West Division.

Tri-City's next home game is Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at 7:05 p.m. against the Lincoln Stars on "Taste of Nebraska Night", presented by the Nebraska Lottery. Come check out local restaurants, breweries and vendors at the Viaero Center. Fans can sample the best tastes of the Cornhusker State.

http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

Last Week:

Saturday, January 2 at Lincoln, W, 4-0

Sunday, January 3 vs. Des Moines, L, 3-2 (SO)

This Week:

Friday, January 8 at Waterloo, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, January 9 at Waterloo, 7:05 p.m.

Need to Know:

Labosky-Limoges-Allison Dominate the Weekend

The line of Dan Labosky, Alex Limoges and Wade Allison factored in on four of Tri-City's six goals this weekend, continuing the success the line has had since Limoges returned from Injured Reserve Dec. 18 at Sioux City.

Allison has reaped the benefits of his center's return to the lineup, potting six goals and an assist in Limoges' first six games off of the I.R. In Limoges' first game back, Allison produced a hat trick against the Musketeers. The second-year USHL forward Allison has nine goals and ten points in his last ten games.

Limoges had two goals and an assist Saturday, tying a season best with three points. The first-year Storm threat has three goals and eight assists in 13 games.

Labosky finished the weekend with three assists, twice dishing to Limoges on Saturday to set up goals.

Since Limoges returned to the lineup Dec. 18, Labosky and Limoges each has six points in Tri-City's six games.

Top Prospects Game Around the Corner

A week from Tuesday, Storm forwards Carson Meyer and Wade Allison compete in the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Omaha, Nebraska. The event features the top NHL-draft-eligible players in the league.

Both players have been key offensive contributors; Meyer (14g) and Allison (11g) rank first and second, respectively, on the club in goals. Meyer leads the Storm in points (24 pts).

Fans can get special discounted tickets to the at Ralston Arena by visiting www.homepridetix.com, clicking "Presales/Promos", entering "Your Team Code".

Other News and Notes

- Jake Kielly's 35-save shutout on Saturday has placed the first-year USHL goalie third in the league with a .924 save percentage.

- Mattias Goransson is tied for the league lead in defenseman points (22 pts) and blue liner goals (6g).

- The Storm's power play went 2-for-4 against Lincoln Friday, keeping the unit the best on the road of any team in the league (20-for-68, 29.4%).

Game Recaps:

Game 29 at Lincoln: Dominating effort crushes Stars, 4-0

Jake Kielly pitched a 35-save shutout, Alex Limoges tied a season high with three points and the Tri-City Storm exploded for three goals in the second to smash the Lincoln Stars, 4-0, Saturday at the Ice Box.

Joe Cipollone, Wade Allison and Alex Limoges all scored in the middle frame, knocking Stars goalie Patrik Virtanen from the game.

Limoges scored his first of two goals in the late stages of a high-shooting first. With 1:18 remaining, Limoges stashed a shot net front, his first of four points over the weekend. Joey Matthews and Dan Labosky took the power-play helpers.

Tri-City's momentum carried into the second, spurred by goals 1:02 apart. Seven minutes into the second, Cipollone scored from the right slot off a feed from Walker Duehr for the winger's fourth of the season.

Next, Wade Allison received a stretch pass through the neutral zone, carried to the left circle and backhanded a shot far post past Virtanen. Allison is second on the squad with 11 goals and has eight tallies and nine points in his last nine contests. Limoges picked up the only assist.

The third goal knocked Virtanen from the game after making 19 saves, the first time this season Lincoln has pulled its netminder.

Game 30 at Des Moines: Allison ties game late, Storm falls in shootout, 3-2

Wade Allison tied the game with 7:30 remaining, but Des Moines Buccaneers' forward David Keefer scored a shootout-winning goal in the top of the third round to best the Tri-City Storm in the skills competition, 3-2.

Starting from the red line, Keefer went to the blue line, ragged left, moved right and shot the puck around Dayton Rasmussen. The 17-year-old netminder helped the Storm earn a point to maintain sole possession of third in the West Division with 32 points.

The Bucs scored two goals in the shootout. Carson Meyer scored the only shootout goal for the Storm in the second round. Wade Allison misfired on Jan Ruzicka in the Storm's attempt to tie in the bottom of the third.

Storm goalie Dayton Rasmussen pitched in with 25 saves, including six overtime stops to force the skills competition.

Paul Washe also scored for the Storm, with assists to Brian Hawkinson and Carson Meyer. Hawkinson has two assists this season, both against Des Moines.

This Week:

Tuesday, January 5, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 7, 2016: Sammy Superheroes Event, First National Bank, Columbus, NE, 2 p.m.

Sammy Superheroes Foundation Meet-And-Greet With Players and Coaches - 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Friday, January 8, 2016: Game at Waterloo

Storm at Black Hawks - 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, January 9, 2016: Game at Waterloo

Storm at Black Hawks - 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, January 10, 2016:

Travel Day

Monday, January 11, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016: Top Prospects Game

USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game (Ralston Arena, Omaha, NE) - 7:00 p.m.

-----------------

The Storm takes to the road for a pair of games against the Waterloo Black Hawks next Friday and Saturday, both 7:05 puck drop times. Listen to David Fine on The Breeze 94.5 FM at 6:45 for the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show.

Tri-City's next home game is Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at 7:05 p.m. against the Lincoln Stars on "Taste of Nebraska Night", presented by the Nebraska Lottery. Come check out local restaurants, breweries and vendors at the Viaero Center. Fans can sample the best tastes of the Cornhusker State.

http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

Groups of 10+ can get discounted group tickets for as low as $11. For more information contact the Storm Box Office at 308-338-8144.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2016


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