KEARNEY, Neb. – After an eight-year journey through minor professional hockey, former Storm forward Bobby Robins has made the Boston Bruins’ opening night roster and is ready to make his NHL debut at the age of 32.

Robins, who suited up for Tri-City for 60 games during the 2001-02 season, is looking to become the 10th Storm player to play in the NHL when the Bruins open up the 2014-15 NHL season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.

A native of Peshtigo, Wis., Robins spent the past three seasons in the American Hockey League with the Bruins’ affiliate in Providence, R.I.

In total, Robins has played in 499 minor league games during his career, but he’s hoping his 500th will be a special one.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Robins told ESPN Boston yesterday after learning he’d made it. “It definitely proves that sticking to the game plan and the program of just working hard every day, and getting a little bit better every day and over the course of a long time you can improve and get better and accomplish your dream.”

The forward is known for his fighting prowess, and has spent plenty of time in the penalty box. Last season in Providence, Robins appeared in 68 games, scoring five goals and nine assists, while racking up 221 penalty minutes.

While in Kearney, Robins had 176 PIMs to go along with 16 goals and 14 assists. After the USHL, he attended UMass-Lowell, and played with the Riverhawks in the Hockey East for four seasons while earning his degree in English.

The Storm welcome the Chicago Steel to Kearney for a two-game series this weekend. Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s contest begins at 7:05.

Saturday’s game will feature a special appearance from Sean and Catherine Lowe of ABC’s The Bachelor Season 17. Tickets are available atstormhockey.com or by calling 308.338.8011.

DES MOINES, Ia. – Behind a 34-save night from goaltender Alec Dillon, the Tri-City Storm (2-1-0) held off the Des Moines Buccaneers (2-0-1) 2-1 in a shootout at Buccaneer Arena on Saturday night.

Nick Master got his first goal in a Tri-City sweater during the first period, while forward Chris Wilkie and defenseman Bobby Nardella both scored in the shootout to finish the win.

Master’s power play tally at 14:19 of the first period held up all the way until the final minutes, when the Buccaneers found an equalizer from forward Georgy Gorodetsky.

Storm forwards Garrett Gamez and Jake Wahlin notched assists on Master’s first of the year.

Des Moines outshot Tri-City 35-22 during the 65 minutes of play, including overtime.

Dillon’s counterpart, Ryland Pashovitz, stopped 21 shots in the loss for the Buccaneers.

In the skills competition, Des Moines forward Patrick Grasso scored on the team’s first attempt to put his team ahead 1-0. But Dillon stopped forwards Joe Widmar and Tanner Karty, while Wilkie and Nardella converted their chances.

Tri-City is back at the Viaero Event Center for a weekend series with the Chicago Steel on Oct. 10 and 11.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Aleksi Ainali and Wade Allison. Defenseman Jalen Schulz was also scratched, serving a three-game suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Tri-City – Nick Master (power play) (Garrett Gamez, Jake Wahlin) 14:19

2nd Period

(no scoring)

3rd Period

Des Moines – Georgy Gorodetsky (power play) (Tanner Karty, Corey Schueneman) 17:21

PENALTIES

1st Period

Des Moines – Miha Zajc – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:22
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Boarding), 2 min, 11:34
Des Moines – Chandler Lindstrand – (Boarding), 2 min, 14:07
Tri-City – Chase Hatcher – (Holding), 2 min, 17:45

2nd Period

Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Slashing), 2 min, 5:30

3rd Period

Des Moines – Chris Allemon – (Head Contact), 2 min, 1:50
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 9:15
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag – (Interference), 2 min, 16:11

Overtime
Des Moines – Brennan Sanford – (Head Contact), 2 min, 4:59

Power Play

Tri-City –1/4

Des Moines – 1/5

Shots

Tri-City: 10, 4, 5, 3 = Total: 23
Des Moines: 12, 9, 12, 2 = Total: 35

Saves

Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 34/35
Des Moines – Ryland Pashovitz – 21/22

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (1-1-0) fell behind in the second period and couldn’t complete a late comeback, taking a 5-3 loss to the Sioux Falls Stampede (1-0-1) on opening night at the Viaero Event Center Friday night.

The Storm got goals in the game from Matthew Freytag, Chris Wilkie and Chase Berger. For Wilkie, it was his second tally in as many games to start the season.

Blake Weyrick began the contest in net for Tri-City, but was relieved after allowing four goals through the first half of the contest. Backup Alec Dillon made 14 stops after coming into the game, holding the Stampede off the board late in the contest and allowing the Storm to make a late comeback.

First period goals from Sioux Falls forwards Logan O’Connor and Kieffer Bellows had the Stampede in front 2-1 after 20 minutes. The lone goal for Tri-City was scored by Freytag on the power play, his first of the season.

Sioux Falls opened things up in the second frame, adding goals by forward Troy Loggins and defenseman Lukas Buchta to take a 4-1 lead.

The Storm made their move in the final period, scoring twice in two minutes with goals from Wilkie and Berger.

Wilkie found a puck in front of the net off a no-look pass from his linemate Nick Master and slipped it into the far side of the goal.

Moments later, it was Wilkie’s shot that created a rebound in front for Berger, who made it a 4-3 game.

Berger’s goal ignited the home crowd, and gave defenseman Mattias Goransson his second assist of the night. Just after the goal, a slashing penalty to Bellows gave the Storm a power play with an opportunity to even the game, but Tri-City came up empty.

In the final seconds the Storm pulled Dillon for an extra attacker in another attempt to tie the game, but Stampede forward Dakota Joshua spoiled their plans, scoring an empty net goal to give his team a 5-3 win.

Sioux Falls goaltender Stefanos Lekkas earned the win for his team, making 36 saves.

The Storm will now head to Des Moines to finish their weekend, taking on the Buccaneers at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.

Tri-City is back at the Viaero Event Center for a weekend series with the Chicago Steel on Oct. 10 and 11.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Aleksi Ainali and Wade Allison. Defenseman Jalen Schulz was also scratched, serving a three-game suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Logan O’Connor (short-handed) (Dakota Joshua) 3:35
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (Mattias Goransson, Tory Dello) 3:52
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (power play) (Joey Raats, Bryan Sienerth) 14:10

2nd Period

Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins (Dakota Joshua) 0:18
Sioux Falls – Lukas Buchta (unassisted) 9:05

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Nick Master, Kevin Kerr) 11:12
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Chris Wilkie, Mattias Goransson) 13:03
Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua (empty net) (unassisted) 18:43

PENALTIES

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Chris Pohlkamp – (Hooking), 2 min, 2:47
Sioux Falls – Bryan Sienerth – (Tripping), 2 min, 4:38
Tri-City – Chase Hatcher – (Slashing), 2 min, 8:27
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting), 5 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Nikolas Koberstein –(Fighting), 5 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Nikolas Koberstein – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:33
Sioux Falls – Troy Loggins – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:33
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Roughing), 2 min, 12:33

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chase Hatcher – (Tripping), 2 min, 12:01
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:57
Sioux Falls – Chaz Switzer – (Abuse of Officials) (Misconduct) 10 min, 14:57

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Dakota Joshua – (Tripping), 2 min, 0:19
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Head Contact) (Major), 5 min, 4:47
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Head Contact) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 4:47
Sioux Falls – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 6:41
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Tripping), 2 min, 7:59
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:44

Power Play

Sioux Falls –1/7

Tri-City – 1/4

Shots

Sioux Falls: 12, 13, 8, = Total: 33
Tri-City: 7, 14, 18, = Total: 39

Saves

Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 36/39
Tri-City – Blake Weyrick – 14/18, Alec Dillon – 14/14

LINCOLN, Neb. – Chris Wilkie’s third period goal with seven minutes to go gave the Tri-City Storm (1-0-0) a 4-3 win over the Lincoln Stars on opening night of the USHL season at the Ice Box Friday night.

Alec Dillon made 21 saves for his first USHL victory, while Mason Appleton notched his first USHL goal for Tri-City in the win. Forwards Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman also scored their first tallies of the season in the second period.

Lincoln took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Biagio Lerario at 9:54, but Tri-City responded one minute later when Appleton took a pass from forward Matthew Freytag and scored the first Storm goal of the new season.

Lerario struck again later in the frame, scoring an unassisted goal to give the Stars a 2-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes.

Lincoln extended their lead to 3-1 with an unassisted goal from Ludvig Hoff at 2:46 of the second and put the Storm in a two-goal hole.

But Gamez converted on the first Tri-City power play opportunity of the season, deflecting a Bobby Nardella shot past Lincoln goalie Cam Hackett and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

With just 16 seconds remaining in the period, Eastman tied the game, outwaiting Hackett and sliding the puck home. Storm head coach Jim Hulton later said Eastman’s strike was the turning point in the game for his team.

The assists on the tying goal went to forward Conner Valesano and assistant captain Jalen Schulz.

Tri-City outshot Lincoln 11-5 in the final period, but only needed one goal to pick up the win. Wilkie’s first of the season came at 12:47 and both Jake Wahlin and Kevin Kerr had assists on the game-winner.

Lincoln had one final chance in the final minute of the contest with the Storm killing a penalty to defenseman Mattias Goransson. But Tri-City held on and got the road victory, killing off the final seconds with two important face-off wins by center Chase Berger.

The Storm will now prepare for opening night at the Viaero Event Center on Oct. 3, when they’ll host the Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:30 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Aleksi Ainali and Wade Allison, along with defenseman Jason Krych…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Lincoln – Biagio Lerario (Blake Christiensen, Ryan Cook) 9:54
Tri-City – Mason Appleton (Matthew Freytag, Kevin Kerr) 10:55
Lincoln – Biagio Lerario (unassisted) 14:29

2nd Period

Lincoln – Ludvig Hoff (unassisted) 2:46
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Bobby Nardella, Chris Wilkie) 3:59
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (Conner Valesano, Jalen Schulz) 19:44

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Jake Wahlin, Kevin Kerr) 12:47

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Cameron Spicer – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 4:59

2nd Period

Lincoln – Keegan Ward – (Slashing), 2 min, 3:09
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Interference), 2 min, 5:46
Lincoln – Connor Frantti – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 13:15

3rd Period

Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Roughing), 19:02
Lincoln – Ryan Cook – (Kneeing), 5 min, 19:59
Lincoln – Ryan Cook – (Kneeing) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 19:59
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 5 min, 19:59

Power Play

Tri-City –1/2

Lincoln – 0/3

Shots

Tri-City: 11, 9, 11, = Total: 31
Lincoln: 12, 7, 5, = Total: 24

Saves

Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 21/24
Lincoln – Cam Hackett – 27/31

KEARNEY, Neb. – After guiding his team to a 6-0-1 preseason record, Storm Head Coach Jim Hulton has announced the team’s final roster in advance of the season opener in Lincoln on Friday night.

The roster is made up of 10 returning members and 15 newcomers. A total of 16 players have already committed to play at 13 different Division 1 colleges.

“We really like the group that we have here,” Hulton said. “They came in good shape, they work very hard, and we obviously had some success, albeit in exhibition where it doesn’t mean anything, but we’re very happy at the starting point hence the reason we didn’t have any further additions.”

In addition, Hulton has also named forward Garrett Gamez his captain for the 2014-15 season, with veterans Kyle Eastman, Chase Berger and Jalen Schulz serving as alternates.

“Garrett Gamez is a third-year guy who really epitomizes everything the Storm is all about,” Hulton said. “He in particular has embraced a new role this year being a lot more physical and robust in his play, and six points in one exhibition game indicates what he has done. He’s is a special person who rallies all types of people around him.”

Gamez is entering his third season with Tri-City, and finished second on the team in scoring a year ago with 28 assists and 34 points. The Chino Hills, Calif. native also led the team in scoring during the preseason, including a six-point effort last Friday vs. Des Moines in the Fall Classic West.

Eastman is also in his third USHL season with Tri-City, and has already suited up in 101 games for the Storm.

Berger and Schulz enter their second seasons with the Storm organization. Berger was third on the team in goal scoring with 14 tallies in 2013-14, accounting for 29 points. Both played in 57 of the 60 games for the team a year ago.

“I think it’s very important that they’re all returning players that lived through some of the tough times of last season,” Hulton said. “They know the expectations of our coaching staff now and that’s very important. They have to be the extension of the coaching staff. As a staff we’re very comfortable in our communication and rapport with all four guys.”

In order to narrow the roster, Hulton completed a trade with Des Moines Monday that sent forward Mark Petaccio and defenseman Grant Hutton to the Bucs in exchange for a third round pick and a 15th round selection in the 2015 USHL Phase II Draft.

Tri-City has also placed forward Wade Allison on injured reserve to begin the season.

The final roster, separated by position, is below and can be found online at stormhockey.com.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all 30 Storm home games, with the home opener slated for Oct. 3 vs. Sioux Falls at 7:30 p.m.

The Storm begin regular season play on Friday night in Lincoln against the Stars at 7:05 p.m.

Forwards

Nolan Aibel – 5/26/1997 – Brookville, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Aleksi Ainali – 4/12/1995 – Vihti, Finland – HIFK U20
Wade Allison – 10/14/1997 – Myrtle, Man. – Omaha AAA
Mason Appleton – 1/15/1996 – Green Bay, Wis. – Notre Dame HS
Chase Berger – 11/14/1994 – St. Louis, Mo. – Tri-City Storm
Kyle Eastman – 1/31/1995 – Angola, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Matthew Freytag – 2/15/1997 – Wayzata, Minn. – Wayzata HS
Garrett Gamez – 2/17/1995 – Chino Hills, Calif. – Tri-City Storm/

Chase Hatcher – 2/22/1994 – Haddonfield, N.J. – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Joel Herbert – 6/24/1994 – Edson, Alb. – Whitecourt Wolverines
Cody Milan – 4/11/1996 – White Lake, Mich. – Tri-City Storm
Nick Master – 1/28/1995 – Broomall, Penn. – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Conner Valesano – 2/10/1995 – Duluth, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Jake Wahlin – 11/9/1996 – White Bear Lake, Minn. – White Bear Lake HS
Chris Wilkie – 7/10/1996 – Omaha, Neb. – Tri-City Storm

Defensemen

Tory Dello – 2/14/1997 – Crystal Lake, Ill. – Tri-City Storm
Mattias Goransson – 3/10/1995 – Grums, Sweden – Byrnas J20
Kevin Kerr – 2/9/1996 – Bensalem, Penn. – Tri-City Storm
Jason Krych – 4/12/1997 – Champlin, Minn. – Totino-Grace HS
Gordie Myer – 2/28/1996 – Sylvania, Ohio – Cleveland Barons
Bobby Nardella – 4/22/1996 – Rosemont, Ill. – Sioux City Musketeers
Jalen Schulz – 4/29/1995 – Cambridge, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Cameron Spicer – 2/22/1996 – Erie, Colo. – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs

Goaltenders
Alec Dillon – 5/5/1996 – Victoria, B.C. – Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Blake Weyrick – 2/5/1996 – Malibu, Calif. – USNTDP

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ludvig Hoff scored a breakaway goal in overtime for the Lincoln Stars to defeat the Tri-City Storm 4-3 at the Ice Box on Friday night.

Storm forwards Mark Petaccio, Aleksi Ainali and Chase Berger each scored goals in the loss, while goaltender Blake Weyrick made 33 saves.

The game got off to a fast start and saw three goals in just over three and a half minutes. Lincoln’s Ryan Jones opened the scoring when he put a puck on net that deflected past Storm goalie Blake Weyrick and gave his team a 1-0 lead.

Tri-City responded less than a minute later with a goal from forward Mark Petaccio. The Sicklerville, N.J. native took a pass from linemate Aleksi Ainali off a face-off and made his shot count, tying the game at 1-1.

After Lincoln’s Blake Christensen made it 2-1, Ainali responded for the Storm and re-tied the game at 2-2 on a pass from defenseman Bobby Nardella.

Late in the opening period, Storm forward Chase Berger got a pass off the boards in stride from defenseman Kevin Kerr and wristed a shot into the top left corner of the net to give Tri-City a 3-2 lead going into the first intermission.

No scoring in the second period kept the Storm in front going into the third.

After over 15 minutes of scoreless play in the final period, a late double minor penalty to Petaccio allowed the Stars a four-minute power play. Lincoln made their chance count when Christensen scored his second of the game to tie things up at 3-3 with just 1:05 remaining.

With the score tied, the teams elected to play a 3-on-3 overtime for five minutes. During the extra period, Hoff found himself all alone and beat Weyrick to give Lincoln their first preseason win in their fourth exhibition game.

Tri-City now has a record of 2-0-1 in preseason play.

The two teams will play a rematch in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City will finish up a three-game weekend on Sunday afternoon with a 4 p.m. game in Omaha against the Lancers.

The Storm will open the regular season in Lincoln on Sept. 26 in and return to Kearney for their home opener on Oct. 3 vs. Sioux Falls.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Lincoln – Ryan Jones (unassisted) 2:16
Tri-City – Mark Petaccio (Aleksi Ainali) 3:08
Lincoln – Blake Christensen (Chris Klack) 3:33
Tri-City – Aleksi Ainali (Bobby Nardella) 6:05
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Kevin Kerr) 17:27

2nd Period

(no scoring)

3rd Period

Lincoln – Blake Christensen (power play) (Ludvig Hoff) 18:55

Overtime

Lincoln – Ludvig Hoff – (unassisted) 2:16

PENALTIES

1st Period

Lincoln – Blake Christensen – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 6:38
Lincoln – Blake Christensen – (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 6:38
Lincoln – Blake Christensen – (Fighting), 5 min, 6:38
Lincoln – Blake Christensen – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 6:38
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting), 5 min, 6:38
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 6:38
Lincoln – Jared Bethune – (High Sticking), 2 min, 10:55
Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 11:31
Lincoln – Tony DeVito – (Slashing), 2 min, 19:16
Lincoln – Connor Frantti – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:56

2nd Period

Tri-City – Jason Krych – (Tripping), 2 min, 2:57
Lincoln – Tye Ausmus – (Interference), 2 min, 16:54

3rd Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 0:44
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 5:17
Lincoln – Tye Ausmus – (Roughing), 2 min, 16:06
Tri-City – Mark Petaccio – (Boarding), 2 min, 16:06
Tri-City – Mark Petaccio – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 16:06

Overtime

(no penalties)

Power Play

Tri-City –0/6

Lincoln – 1/6

Shots

Tri-City: 16, 14, 4, 0 = Total: 34
Lincoln: 11, 7, 13, 6 = Total: 37

Saves

Tri-City – Blake Weyrick – 33/37
Lincoln – Cam Hackett – 13/16, Peyton Jones – 18/18