USHL Tri-City Storm

Tri-City Storm Defenseman Goransson Close to Two Milestones

Published on February 16, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


The Tri-City Storm's weekend sweep over the Sioux Falls Stampede has helped Tri-City earn separation as it drives into the final 18 games of the regular season. The second-place Storm is eight points up on Fargo, the final team out in the conference if the Clark Cup Playoffs began today.

Perhaps more impressive, the Storm wrapped up a season-long six-game road trip by earning points in five of the six contests (4-1-0-1). Tri-City extended its USHL-best conference points streak to fifteen straight games (11-0-2-2), helped by Jake Kielly, who made 60 of 62 saves to take CCM Goaltender of the Week.

After travelling 3,880 miles over the last three weekends, the Storm gets set for a season-long five-game home stand, beginning Friday with a third straight game against Sioux Falls. Tri-City has played the fewest home games (17) of any team in the league, allowing it to enjoy 13 of its final 18 at home.

Friday at 7:30 p.m. is Thunderstruck Night, brought to you by Hy-Vee, with the first 1,000 fans in attendance receiving a free pair of Thundersticks, plus a Free Kids Friday. Saturday against the Omaha Lancers is Pack it in Purple Night, presented by the United Way and Kearney Hub, featuring one-night-only specialty United Way jerseys and a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.

http://bit.ly/Storm_Tickets

Last Week:

Friday, February 12 at Sioux Falls, W, 4-1

Saturday, February 13 at Sioux Falls, W, 2-1 (OT)

This Week:

Community Events

Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 p.m. - Storm players bag groceries at Hy-Vee

Games

Friday, February 19 vs. Sioux Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 20 vs. Omaha, 7:05 p.m.

Need to Know:

Goransson close to two milestones

Storm defenseman Mattias Goransson earned an assist Friday at Sioux Falls, his 59th career USHL point, pulling the 20-year-old within one point of Chris Nathe for most points by a Tri-City blueliner.

After scoring seven goals and 28 points in 2014-15, his first USHL season, Goransson is tied for the most points (31) by a USHL defenseman this season.

With one more point, Goransson ties Nathe for 29th on the Storm's career points list. Mario Lamoureux has the most points in Storm history (129).

In addition to the points, Goransson has played in 99 games with the Storm, one away from becoming the 53rd player in Tri-City history to suit up in at least 100 contests.

Tory Dello leads active Storm players with 137 games played, 14th in team history. Dan Labosky follows at 15th with 135 games played. Jake Wahlin is the only other active Storm player to suit up in at least 100 games, ranking 47th in team history with 107 games played. Lamoureux (2004-08), who missed just four regular season games in his career, is the franchise leader with 236 games played.

Streaks continue (with help from Kielly).

With the weekend sweep against the Herd, Tri-City continued three notable streaks.

The Storm has points in fifteen straight conference games, a streak that began vs. Lincoln on Nov. 25, the best stretch of any USHL team this season (11-0-2-2). In a stretch that began Nov. 14 at Sioux Falls, Tri-City has earned at least one point in its last 11 conference road games (8-0-2-1).

Additionally, goalie Jake Kielly, who started both games over the weekend, has helped Tri-City get points in 11 straight appearances (9-0-2-0). The dual citizen of the United States and Canada has been nearly unbeatable since the calendar turned to 2016, helping Tri-City earn points in each of his ten starts. Kielly has a 9-0-1-0 record in the new year, the second most wins by a goalie in 2016, plus a 1.86 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. Kielly's new-year goals against average ranks second in the league, while his save percentage is tops in the circuit.

The 19-year-old netminder has allowed three goals in three games this month, pushing to third in the league with a 2.25 goals against average and second in the circuit with a .928 save percentage.

Game Recaps:

Game 41 at Sioux Falls: Storm's consistency shines to down Herd, 4-1

Jake Kielly made 25 saves in his first start of the weekend, while four Storm players tallied to open the weekend with a 4-1 win at the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Alex Limoges started the scoring in the first, giving the high school senior seven goals and 18 points in his first 25 USHL games. John Marino, Carson Meyer and Wade Allison tallied, jump starting each to multi-point weekends.

After allowing a goal on the second shot of the game to Dan Warpecha, Kielly rebounded by making the final 24 stops. Kielly continued that theme Saturday, making the 32 consecutive saves to end the game Saturday after allowing a goal three minutes into the opening frame.

Jake Wahlin had two assists, giving the forward a team-best seven points in five games against the Herd. Two of Wahlin's four multi-point games have come against Sioux Falls.

Game 42 at Sioux Falls: Meyer starts comeback and Allison finishes it in OT, Storm wins, 2-1

Wade Allison ripped a loose puck past Stefanos Lekkas with 46 seconds remaining in overtime, catapulting the Tri-City Storm to a 2-1 victory over the Sioux Falls Stampede.

John Marino drove the crease on the right side, creating havoc in three-on-three. Dan Labosky battered the puck off bodies to Allison, who scooped and shot it for his 18th of the season.

Carson Meyer scored for the second straight day to tie the game at one with about eight minutes left. The 18-year-old Miami University commit is third in the league with 24 goals.

The Storm is the first team to beat the Herd at home on consecutive days. The weekend sweep gives Tri-City 50 points, second in the conference and three behind the Lincoln Stars.

Schedule:

Tuesday, February 16, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 18, 2016:

Practice - 3:00 p.m.

Friday, February 19, 2016: Game vs. Sioux Falls - Thunderstruck Night

Storm vs. Stampede - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 20, 2016: Game vs. Omaha - Pack it in Purple Night

Storm vs. Lancers - 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, February 21, 2016:

Off Day

Monday, February 22, 2016:

TBD

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.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2016


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