USHL Tri-City Storm

Tri-City Storm Conference Title, Labosky's and Meyer's Milestones Highlight Wild Week

Published on April 4, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


The Tri-City Storm has clinched the Western Conference regular season title, its second in team history, after blowing past the Fargo Force, 4-1, Saturday in front of a packed Viaero Center.

Bolstered by a three-point night from Wade Allison and two goals Dan Labosky, Tri-City wrapped up the conference regular season crown, giving the Storm home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the Clark Cup Playoffs.

The win capped off a wild week; the Storm clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday and its first regular season conference title since 2003-04.

Storm players and coaches did not know they had won the conference until after Saturday's game ended because Tri-City required a win and a Sioux Falls win to clinch. Sioux Falls finalized a 2-0 victory over Lincoln as Tri-City hit the final minute of its game. The Stampede's win opened the door for the Storm to wrap up first place.

Tri-City has been in first or second place the entire second half of the regular season. Currently five points ahead of Lincoln and Waterloo with two games left in the regular season, the Storm eyes a showdown with the Omaha Lancers in a home-and-home next weekend.

Also significant to the cause, Dan Labosky played in his 150th regular season game and has 101 career points, the sixth Storm player to reach at least 100.

First, the Storm travels to play Omaha on Friday, April 8, at 7:05 p.m. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with the Viaero Wireless Pregame Show on The Breeze 94.5 FM - kliqfm.com. The Storm's final home game is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Midway, on Saturday, April 9, at 7:05 p.m.

http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

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

Last Week:

Friday, April 1 vs Fargo, L, 4-3 (OT)

Saturday, April 2 vs. Fargo, W, 4-1

This Week:

Friday, April 8 at Omaha, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 9 vs. Omaha, 7:05 p.m.

Need to Know:

Labosky's milestones

With two points Saturday against Fargo, Dan Labosky became the sixth Storm player to record more than 100 career points with Tri-City. He joins Garrett Gamez, Alex Hudson, Bill Thomas, Konrad Reeder and Mario Lamoureux.

His efforts were aided by his linemates, Wade Allison and Alex Limoges, who each picked up assists on Labosky's pair of goals.

The Wisconsin commit also participated in his 150th regular season game in Friday's game. Tory Dello played in his 150th regular season game on Saturday.

Labosky has two multi-goal games this season, each in the last three games. The multi-dimensional, 5-foot-7 forward tied a career best with four points Tuesday against Sioux City.

Meyer reaches 30 goals

Forward Carson Meyer has four goals in his last two games, giving him 31 goals, tied for fifth in the Storm's single-season history. The Storm record for goals in a season is 35, a tie between Chris Wilkie (2014-15) and Rastislav Spirko (2003-04).

The fifth-place tie is between Meyer and Jaden Schwartz, a former first-round draft pick and current standout star with the St. Louis Blues.

Meyer's effort started Friday, when the 5-foot-11 forward pottedth his first hat trick. The Miami University commit has made a habit of scoring goals close to the net, and Friday was no exception. Two of Meyer's goals came within five feet of the goal post and the other was attempted from the right slot. On Saturday, Meyer cleaned up a rebound just outside the crease for his 31st.

Rumbling Power Play

Tri-City has scored at least one power-play goal in 15 of 22 games (22-for-87, 25.2%) driving the unit to the fourth in the league with a 20.4% conversion clip.

At the time this streak began, Tri-City was converting at 17.4% on the man up following an 0-for-4 performance vs. Dubuque on Jan. 22. In particular, the Storm has 16 man-up tallies in the last 15 games (16-for-64, 25.0%).

Game Recaps:

Game 57 vs. Fargo: Storm moves three points up on Lincoln for first place

Jere Astren scored a power-play goal with 3:45 left in overtime for the Fargo Force, pinching it past the Tri-City Storm, 4-3, Friday at the Viaero Center.

With Dan Labosky in the box for a two-minute charging call, Astren pounced with a top-shelf slap shot.

Wade Allison, Carson Meyer and Nico Sturm scored for Tri-City. The Storm is three points ahead of the Stars for first place in the Western Conference entering the final three games.

The Force's Niko Hildenbrand scored with 3:29 left to tie the contest at three.

Game 58 vs. Fargo: Storm wraps up conference regular season title with 4-1 win.

Wade Allison finished with a team-high three points, Dan Labosky reached 100 points in his USHL career and the Tri-City Storm clinched the Western Conference regular season title with a 4-1 victory over the Fargo Force Saturday at the Viaero Center.

The regular season conference title is the Storm's second ever, and first since 2003-04, when the Storm won the Anderson Cup.

The game shifted in the third when Allison scored a shorthanded goal at 5:08 to cap off his trio of points and make it 3-1 Storm. Labosky scored two goals, giving the third-year forward 101 points.

Jake Kielly made 24 saves to capture the win, while Ryan Wischow lost making 26 saves.

The Storm has 72 points and plays a home-and-home with the Omaha Lancers to wrap up the season.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics

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