KEARNEY, Neb. – Former Storm forward Mike Vecchione helped the Union Dutchmen capture the school’s first ever national championship on Saturdaynight in Philadelphia, defeating the University of Minnesota by a score of 7-4.

Vecchione scored a goal in the game, while putting a team-high seven shots on net and finishing with a plus-one rating.

The freshman was the first center on the team’s depth chart, playing between wings Daniel Carr and Daniel Ciampini.

The Dutchmen took a 4-2 lead after the first period, and never looked back. Although Minnesota had a 2-1 lead 10 minutes into the opening stanza, Vecchione scored his 14th tally of the season at the 15:09 mark, evening the game.

Vecchione’s strike began a stretch of three Union goals in under two minutes, giving them that two-goal lead to take into the locker room. After Minnesota brought back the lead to within one at 4-3 and 5-4, the Dutchmen got their sixth of the night with less than two minutes to play and added an empty net goal to seal the win.

The Saugus, Mass. native led Tri-City with 26 goals in 2012-13. In 114 games with the Storm over two seasons, Vecchione had 36 goals and 55 assists.

Former Storm goaltender Adam Wilcox started in net for the Golden Gophers, coming up short in the final game of the season, despite making 41 saves.

In his sophomore season, the netminder was one of the best in the country, being named the Big Ten Player and Goaltender of the Year.

Tri-City is preparing for the two annual USHL Entry Drafts, which will take place May 5-6. The Storm will have the No. 3 overall pick in both drafts.

The Phase I Draft will include eligible players with a 1998 birth year and the Phase II Draft will include multiple birth years from 1994-1997.