LAS VEGAS, Nev. – For the first time in team history, the Tri-City Storm have a Kearney native vying for a spot on their roster.

Matt Lewis, a 5-foot, 10-inch forward that weighs in at 175 pounds, calls Kearney home.

Last season, Lewis played for the U18 AAA team at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Fairbault, Minn.

“I think it’s great for the community to have a local kid come to camp,” said Storm head coach Josh Hauge. “It means a lot to the young kids in town that would like to pursue playing for the Storm. Hopefully someday we have that happen. Maybe it’s even this year, who knows.”

Lewis has taken the first step, as he was one of 11 forwards chosen to move on to the Storm’s main camp after open tryouts were completed Tuesday.

Kearney’s own turned heads right away during tryouts on Monday, scoring the first goal in the first game of the day.

Lewis got his start locally with the Tri-City Optimist Youth Ice Hockey Association. He is one of 112 players competing in the main phase of tryout camp. There will be 25-30 players invited to fall camp upon the completion of the Las Vegas tryouts.

“He’s asked me for advice a few times since I’ve been with the Storm and I’ve just tried to help him any way I can,” Hauge said.

The Storm will continue their annual tryout camp through Saturday afternoon. For all the latest updates from Las Vegas, log on to stormhockey.com and follow the Storm on Facebook and Twitter.