KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm assistant captain Kyle Eastman made his decision official Thursday, announcing his commitment to play Division I college hockey for the Robert Morris University Colonials of the Atlantic Hockey conference.
Eastman is in his third USHL season with Tri-City and has played in 133 games with the Storm.
It’s been a long time coming for the forward from Angola, N.Y., but Eastman isn’t thinking about next season just yet; he wants to see his current team succeed.
“It feels good to be finally committed but I’m more worried about finishing out this season first,” Eastman said. “We’ve got to finish off on a good note and get home ice for the first round against whoever we’re facing. I want to win out the last four games.”
In his comments, Eastman echoed the way he plays the game. Someone who isn’t always on the scoresheet, the 20-year-old is more worried about playing hard and doing the best he can in his role.
“I try not to think about [college] too much and just play my game,” Eastman said. “I play for the guys on the team and try to play the same way all the time.”
The veteran has had some offensive success as of late, including a three-game assist streak at the end of March. In his three seasons, Eastman has a total of 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points along with 161 penalty minutes.
As for the school, Robert Morris is located in Moon, Penn., a suburb of Pittsburgh.
“I liked that the campus was kind of in the country out in the hillsides,” Eastman said. “It was really nice and pretty modern but it’s old too at the same time.”
The forward who grew up in the Buffalo area is also excited to be a little closer to home.
“Going back east is nice because I get to see my parents a little bit more and they get to see me play,” Eastman said. “I like the weather out there more than Nebraska.”
Eastman will become the sixth player in Storm history to move on to Robert Morris, and the first to wear a Colonials sweater since Jake Obermeyer in 2009. Obermeyer is currently in his sixth season of professional hockey, enjoying another successful year with the Tulsa Oilers in the ECHL.
Including Eastman, Tri-City now has 20 players on their active roster committed to play Division I college hockey.
Tri-City is currently in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 74 points. Four games remain in the regular season and the Storm have clinched a spot in the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs.
The Storm are back in action on Friday night in Sioux Falls, facing the Stampede at 7:05 p.m. Tri-City will complete their home schedule the following evening against Cedar Rapids on Fan Appreciation Night at the Viaero Event Center 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.