Kearney, Ne. – The Tri-City Storm has added forward Nicholas Nardella to the team’s Affiliate List, Head Coach and General Manager Bill Muckalt announced.
Nardella, 16, is the younger brother of former Storm defenseman Bobby Nardella. Nicholas is set to play for the Chicago Mission of the High Performance Hockey League this season.
“We are really excited to add Nicholas,” said Muckalt. “He fits the long-term plan of our organization.
Nardella has spent the last four seasons with the Mission, accumulating 20 goals and 40 points during that span. Last season, the 5-foot-9, 145-lb. skater tabbed four goals and four assists in 25 games.
Nicholas and his brother, Bobby, each grew up in Rosemont, IL. While with the Storm in 2014-15, Bobby scored ten goals and racked up 42 points, third on the Storm and third among USHL defenseman.
An All-USHL Second Team selection last season, Bobby scored two goals and nine points in the playoffs, helping guide the Storm to the Clark Cup Semifinals. He currently plays on the Notre Dame Men’s Hockey Team.
Bobby also played for the Chicago Mission from 2011-2013. Current Storm Captain Tory Dello suited up for the Mission in 2012-13.
Nicholas’ father, Bob, played in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers, was a defenseman at Ferris State, played professionally for the Chicago Wolves (AHL), and represented Team Italy at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.
Tri-City plays the Chicago Steel this Friday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m., in the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, IL. Catch coverage of both games on The Breeze 94.5 FM, with Storm Pregame beginning 15 minutes before puck drop.
The following weekend, Tri-City hosts the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Free Kids Friday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m., catch the Storm on “Huskers Night” and grab a Coca-Cola Family Four Fourpack, with four tickets for $40 plus four cokes, four hot dogs and four bags of chips.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308-338-8011.