USHL Tri-City Storm

Tri-City Storm Prospects Report

Published on March 7, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release


KEARNEY, Neb. - With the 2011-12 regular season finishing up in the coming weeks, the Tri-City Storm eyes prospects in the system to fill out the lineup next season. Below is the latest information on each of the Storm's 12 prospects, who are not playing in Kearney this season.

RW CHASE BERGER - 1994 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft 13th rd. (182nd overall) - 2011-12 Season: St. Louis Blues U18 (Tier I) - Tri-City Storm prospect forward Chase Berger continues to develop this season with the St. Louis Amateur Blues U18 team in Midget Major hockey. Last season, St. Louis, Mo. native had 29 points (10g, 19a) in 38 games, while this season he has 38 points (19g, 19a) in 40 games playing in the Tier I league. Berger is a talented versatile forward, who is expected to be playing with the Storm next season.

D GARRETT CECERE - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted (by Dubuque) in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft 5th rd. (73rd overall) - 2011-12 Season: Janesville Jets (NAHL) - Tri-City Storm prospect defenseman Garrett Cecere, who was acquired by the Storm via trade with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, has been playing junior hockey this season as a 16-year old with the Janesville Jets (NAHL). This season, Cecere has 27 points (6g, 21a) and is a plus-6 rating in 47 games. Cecere is in the Top 15 in NAHL Defense Scoring Leaders. Last season, the West Des Moines, Iowa native had 31 points (3g, 28a) in 50 games with Shattuck St. Mary's U16 team. Cecere, who is committed to Colorado College, is a talented offensive-defenseman and should be with Storm next season.

RW KYLE EASTMAN - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft 3rd rd. (38th overall) - 2011-12 Season: Buffalo Jr. Sabres U18 (Tier I) - Tri-City Storm prospect RW Kyle Eastman, who has been called up this season to play with the Storm in a pair of games, has been finishing this season with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres U18 in Midget Major hockey. Last season, the Angola, NY native played for the Buffalo Regals U16 team, where he had 28 points (9g, 19a) in 35 games. This season, the physical forward has continued to improve his offense at the next level and has 26 points (13g, 13a) and 44 penalty minutes in 40 games playing in Tier I. In two games playing for the Storm, Eastman had a couple big hits and was a plus-1 rating. The future for Eastman is bright, and he is considered a NHL Entry Draft Prospect in the 2012-13 season in the USHL.

D NOLAN GLUCHOWSKI - 1994 born affiliate player - Drafted (by Fargo) in the 2010 USHL Futures Draft 5th rd. (73rd overall) - 2011-12 Season: Detroit Catholic Central High School (Mich.) - Tri-City Storm prospect defenseman Nolan Gluchowski was acquired by the Storm this season from the Fargo Force in exchange for former prospect forward Cory Ward. This season, the Wixom, Mich. native played for Detroit Catholic Central High School (Mich.) and has 24 points (9g, 15a) in 26 games. The defensive prospect played in one game in the NAHL with the Kalamazoo Jr. K Wings back in October. Gluchowski will attend his first Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June.

C/RW CONNOR HUTCHINS - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft 5th rd. (74th overall) - 2011-12 Season: Dallas Stars U18 (Tier I) - Tri-City Storm prospect C/RW Connor Hutchins, who was called up by the Storm this season, is finishing the season playing for the Dallas Stars U18 in Midget Major hockey. Last season, the Richland Hills, Texas native played for the Dallas Stars U16 team, where he had 18 points (9g, 9a) in 32 games. This season, the forward has 23 points (7g, 16a) in 40 games playing in Tier I league. Hutchins played in both games for the Storm on Dec. 9 and 10 against Des Moines, registering a shot on goal. Hutchins will attend his second Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June and could earn a spot on next year's team in Tri-City.

C/LW DAN LABOSKY - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft 4th rd. (53rd overall) - 2011-12 Season: Benilde-St. Margaret's High School (Minn.) - Tri-City Storm prospect C/LW Dan Labosky, who is committed to Colorado College, played with Storm LW Trevor Moore on the U.S. Under-17 Select Team this past summer and returned to Benilde-St. Margaret's High School for his junior season. This season, the highly-touted Minnesota player has 60 points (15g, 45a) in 28 games, as Benilde-St. Margaret's is currently playing in the Minnesota State Playoffs. Last season, he had 13 multi-point games with 46 points (10g, 36a) in 29 games. Right now, Labosky is considered one of the top players in the 1995 birth year playing in Minnesota High School and should attend his second Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June.

RW JOEL L'ESPERANCE - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted (by Des Moines) in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft 3rd rd. (41st overall) - 2011-12 Season: Compuware U18 (HPHL) - Tri-City Storm prospect RW Joel L'Esperance was acquired by the Storm in early February from the Des Moines Buccaneers in a packaged deal with fellow Storm prospect LW Chase Rey. This season, the Michigan Tech University prospect forward has 19 points (13g, 6a) in 26 games with Compuware U18 Midget Major team. Last season, L'Esperance had 18 goals and 18 assists in 36 games playing for Compuware U16 Midget Minor team. L'Esperance is committed to Michigan Tech for the Fall of 2013 and will attend his first Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June.

D CUTLER MARTIN - 1994 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft 15th rd. (212th overall) - 2011-12 Season: Victory Honda U18 (Tier I) - Tri-City Storm prospect defenseman Cutler Martin has been called up to the Storm in four games this season and was impressive in the recent two games in February. Martin is finishing his midget major hockey season with Victory Honda U18 and has 34 points (12g, 22a) in 38 games. Last season, East Lansing, Mich. native had only 15 points (4g, 11a) in 27 games. Martin is a talented all-around defenseman, who is considered by scouts as one of the midget major defensemen in the United States this season. He should be expected to make the Storm next season.

D ELI MAY - 1993 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft 7th rd. (92nd overall) - 2011-12 Season: Eagan High School (Minn.) - Tri-City Storm prospect defenseman Eli May is committed to Minnesota State University-Mankato for the Fall of 2014. The Eagan High School co-captain is currently playing in the Minnesota State Playoffs with fellow Storm prospect and co-captain LW Will Merchant. This season, May has 31 points (13g, 18a) in 28 games as the season will end this week. Last season, May had 29 points (12g, 17a) in 32 games playing for Eagan. The NHL Central Scouting in January ranked him No. 159, as he enters his first year of NHL Draft Eligibility. May could be playing later this month with the Storm for a handful of games in a call up stint with the team. May is expected to be playing full-time with the Storm next season.

LW WILL MERCHANT - 1994 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft 4th rd. (47th overall) - 2011-12 Season: Eagan High School (Minn.) - Tri-City Storm prospect left-winger Will Merchant committed to the University of Maine for next season about a month ago. Merchant is playing with Eagan High School in the Minnesota State Playoffs has 50 points (24g, 26a) in 28 games this season. Last season, Merchant had 56 points (34g, 22a) in 32 games playing for Eagan, including 14 multi-point games. He is expected to be drafted by an NHL club this June in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. and was ranked No. 155 by NHL Central Scouting in January. Merchant isn't expected to play for the Storm and should be playing as a freshman at Maine next season.

G TALON MILLER - 1995 born affiliate player - Drafted in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft 18th rd. (257th overall) - 2011-12 Season: Las Vegas Storm U16 (NAPHL) - Tri-City Storm prospect goaltender Talon Miller is playing his second season with the Las Vegas Storm U16. His goalie numbers improved throughout this season with a record of 7-4-2, goal-against average of 2.45 and .900 save-percentage. Last season, Miller went 11-3-1 with a 2.07 GAA and .925 SV%. Miller will attend his third Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June. He could compete for an open goalie spot with the Storm next season.

C/LW CHASE REY - 1994 born affiliate player - Drafted (by Des Moines) in the 2010 USHL Entry Draft 20th rd. (288th overall) - 2011-12 Season: St. Louis Blues U18 (Tier I) - Tri-City Storm prospect C/LW Chase Rey was acquired by the Storm in early February from the Des Moines Buccaneers in a packaged deal with fellow Storm prospect RW Joel L'Esperance. He is a current teammate of another Storm prospect forward - Chase Berger with the St. Louis Amateur Blues U18 Midget Major team. Last season, Rey had 21 points (12g, 9a) and 46 penalty minutes in 33 games with the U18 midget team. This season, the St. Peters, Mo. native has improved offensively to 43 points (21g, 22a) in 36 games. The forward prospect was called up by the Buccaneers earlier this season and played in two USHL games and scoring one goal. Rey will attend his first Storm Main Camp in Las Vegas, Nev. this June and is expected to play for the Storm next season.

The Storm are back in Omaha this Friday to play the Lancers for the final time in Omaha this season. Classic Hits 98.9 FM is schedule to air the game with the Viaero Wireless Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45 p.m. The radio station could change Thursday night to ESPN Superstation 1460/1550 AM pending schedule conflicts.

Check out the Tri-City Storm Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2012


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