KEARNEY, Neb. – After guiding his team to a 6-0-1 preseason record, Storm Head Coach Jim Hulton has announced the team’s final roster in advance of the season opener in Lincoln on Friday night.
The roster is made up of 10 returning members and 15 newcomers. A total of 16 players have already committed to play at 13 different Division 1 colleges.
“We really like the group that we have here,” Hulton said. “They came in good shape, they work very hard, and we obviously had some success, albeit in exhibition where it doesn’t mean anything, but we’re very happy at the starting point hence the reason we didn’t have any further additions.”
In addition, Hulton has also named forward Garrett Gamez his captain for the 2014-15 season, with veterans Kyle Eastman, Chase Berger and Jalen Schulz serving as alternates.
“Garrett Gamez is a third-year guy who really epitomizes everything the Storm is all about,” Hulton said. “He in particular has embraced a new role this year being a lot more physical and robust in his play, and six points in one exhibition game indicates what he has done. He’s is a special person who rallies all types of people around him.”
Gamez is entering his third season with Tri-City, and finished second on the team in scoring a year ago with 28 assists and 34 points. The Chino Hills, Calif. native also led the team in scoring during the preseason, including a six-point effort last Friday vs. Des Moines in the Fall Classic West.
Eastman is also in his third USHL season with Tri-City, and has already suited up in 101 games for the Storm.
Berger and Schulz enter their second seasons with the Storm organization. Berger was third on the team in goal scoring with 14 tallies in 2013-14, accounting for 29 points. Both played in 57 of the 60 games for the team a year ago.
“I think it’s very important that they’re all returning players that lived through some of the tough times of last season,” Hulton said. “They know the expectations of our coaching staff now and that’s very important. They have to be the extension of the coaching staff. As a staff we’re very comfortable in our communication and rapport with all four guys.”
In order to narrow the roster, Hulton completed a trade with Des Moines Monday that sent forward Mark Petaccio and defenseman Grant Hutton to the Bucs in exchange for a third round pick and a 15th round selection in the 2015 USHL Phase II Draft.
Tri-City has also placed forward Wade Allison on injured reserve to begin the season.
The final roster, separated by position, is below and can be found online at stormhockey.com.
Single game tickets are on sale now for all 30 Storm home games, with the home opener slated for Oct. 3 vs. Sioux Falls at 7:30 p.m.
The Storm begin regular season play on Friday night in Lincoln against the Stars at 7:05 p.m.
Forwards
Nolan Aibel – 5/26/1997 – Brookville, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Aleksi Ainali – 4/12/1995 – Vihti, Finland – HIFK U20
Wade Allison – 10/14/1997 – Myrtle, Man. – Omaha AAA
Mason Appleton – 1/15/1996 – Green Bay, Wis. – Notre Dame HS
Chase Berger – 11/14/1994 – St. Louis, Mo. – Tri-City Storm
Kyle Eastman – 1/31/1995 – Angola, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Matthew Freytag – 2/15/1997 – Wayzata, Minn. – Wayzata HS
Garrett Gamez – 2/17/1995 – Chino Hills, Calif. – Tri-City Storm/
Chase Hatcher – 2/22/1994 – Haddonfield, N.J. – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Joel Herbert – 6/24/1994 – Edson, Alb. – Whitecourt Wolverines
Cody Milan – 4/11/1996 – White Lake, Mich. – Tri-City Storm
Nick Master – 1/28/1995 – Broomall, Penn. – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Conner Valesano – 2/10/1995 – Duluth, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Jake Wahlin – 11/9/1996 – White Bear Lake, Minn. – White Bear Lake HS
Chris Wilkie – 7/10/1996 – Omaha, Neb. – Tri-City Storm
Defensemen
Tory Dello – 2/14/1997 – Crystal Lake, Ill. – Tri-City Storm
Mattias Goransson – 3/10/1995 – Grums, Sweden – Byrnas J20
Kevin Kerr – 2/9/1996 – Bensalem, Penn. – Tri-City Storm
Jason Krych – 4/12/1997 – Champlin, Minn. – Totino-Grace HS
Gordie Myer – 2/28/1996 – Sylvania, Ohio – Cleveland Barons
Bobby Nardella – 4/22/1996 – Rosemont, Ill. – Sioux City Musketeers
Jalen Schulz – 4/29/1995 – Cambridge, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Cameron Spicer – 2/22/1996 – Erie, Colo. – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
Goaltenders
Alec Dillon – 5/5/1996 – Victoria, B.C. – Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Blake Weyrick – 2/5/1996 – Malibu, Calif. – USNTDP