KEARNEY, Neb. – The United States Hockey League has announced the rosters for the 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which will be held on Jan. 13 at the Mystique Community Ice Center in Dubuque, Ia.
Three Tri-City Storm skaters were among the 40 players chosen, including defenseman Tory Dello and forwards Matthew Freytag and Chris Wilkie. All three will play for “Team West” in the game.
This is the third season for the event, which will showcase many of the top players in the USHL who are eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla.June 26-27. The USHL set a record in 2014, seeing 35 players from the 2013-14 season selected by NHL clubs.
The selection process was completed in cooperation with USHL General Managers, NHL scouts and team personnel, and NHL Central Scouting. All 40 players chosen are eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, including 30 players that are in their first year of eligibility.
In his second USHL season, Dello has appeared in 24 games and has nine assists from the back end. Seven of his helpers have come on the power play, and the Crystal Lake, Ill. native has a plus-three rating on the season.
Dello also represented the Storm in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game the night before the USHL season began on Sept. 25. A Notre Dame commit, Dello has played in 73 total games during his career with Tri-City.
Freytag is fourth in scoring among Storm forwards through 25 games in this, his first USHL campaign. The Wayzata, Minn. product has five goals and 10 assists, along with a plus-two rating.
Three of Freytag’s goals have come on the power play, which is tied for second on the team. The forward is committed to play collegiately at the University of Wisconsin.
Wilkie has been Tri-City’s most consistent offensive performer this season, in his third year in the USHL. An Omaha native, Wilkie leads the team with 15 goals and 22 points in 25 games. His goal total is fourth best in the league, and his seven power play tallies is third in the USHL.
Always dangerous with the puck, Wilkie has put 121 shots on net already this season, which is second in the league. The North Dakota commit has appeared in 121 career USHL games, scoring 39 goals and 33 assists.
15 USHL teams have at least one player selected to participate in the event.
The full list of players chosen can be found here.
The Storm will close out the 2014 calendar with a New Year’s Eve battle in Sioux Falls on Wednesday night at 6:05 p.m.
Tri-City returns home to face the Lancers in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center this Saturday at 7:05.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.