KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (19-32-3) got a goal in the final two minutes from Dan Labosky and held on to defeat the Green Bay Gamblers (25-22-6) by a final score of 2-1 at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night.

Storm goaltender Hayden Lavigne secured his fifth win of the season by making 36 stops. The saves included some late-game chances for Green Bay in the third that gave Tri-City the win in the first of a weekend two-game series.

After a scoreless first period in which the Storm outshot Green Bay 14-8, the Gamblers took the lead with a goal by Jake Linhart at 2:02 of the middle frame.

It remained 1-0 for the majority of the period, but Tri-City gained momentum in the closing seconds when Chris Wilkie evened the game, scoring his 15th goal of the season.

After taking a pass from affiliate player Matthew Freytag, Wilkie had his shot deflect off a Green Bay defenseman’s stick and past Gamblers’ netminder Cam Hackett. The assist for Freytag was his first career USHL point in his fourth game.

The game stayed tied at 1-1 all the way until Labosky’s winner with just 1:48 left in the third. The Edina, Minn. native had missed an open net earlier in the game while Tri-City was shorthanded, but he redeemed himself at the perfect time.

Labosky won a race to a loose puck in the neutral zone and deked around a poke-check from Hacket before putting a backhand shot into the net.

Tri-City only had three shots on goal in the final period and were behind 37-24 in shots on goal at the end of the night, but Labosky’s was the one that mattered late in the game.

The two teams will have a rematch on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center that gets underway at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Joey DiBenedetto, Nick Hutchison and Patrick Curry, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson, Tory Dello and goaltender Jacob Johansson…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

(no scoring)

2nd Period

Green Bay – Jake Linhart (unassisted) 2:02
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Matthew Freytag) 19:30

3rd Period

Tri-City – Dan Labosky (unassisted) 18:12

PENALTIES

1st Period

Green Bay – Jake Linhart – (Interference), 2 min, 13:03
Tri-City – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 18:46

2nd Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Tripping), 2 min, 3:37
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:27
Green Bay – Colin Sullivan – (Roughing), 2 min, 9:27
Green Bay – Alex Robert – (Holding), 2 min, 12:50

3rd Period

Tri-City – Daniel Labosky – (Roughing), 2 min, 15:32
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Roughing), 2 min, 15:32
Green Bay – Evan Tironese – (Roughing), 2 min, 15:32
Green Bay – Jake Linhart – (Roughing), 2 min, 15:32

Power Play

Green Bay –0/2

Tri-City – 0/2

Shots

Green Bay: 8, 15, 14, = Total: 37
Tri-City: 14, 7, 3, = Total: 24

Saves

Green Bay – Cam Hackett – 22/24
Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 36/37

 

KEARNEY, Neb. – Two goals from Austin Poganski weren’t enough as the Sioux City Musketeers (34-16-3) came to Kearney and knocked off the Tri-City Storm (18-32-3) by a score of 5-2 at the Viaero Event Centeron Saturday night.

Poganski scored once on the power play and one shorthanded for Tri-City and now has 18 total goals on the year which leads the team.

The Musketeers scored just 3:33 into the game to take a 1-0 lead and stayed out in front the rest of the way. Kyle Schmidt opened the scoring for Sioux City, deflecting a puck past Tri-City goaltender Jacob Johansson.

Sioux City doubled their lead later in the first frame when affiliate player Brock Boeser got his skate on a shot from Neal Pionk and redirected it home for his second USHL goal.

Tri-City got on the board and cut the lead to 2-1 late in the first. While on a power play, Chris Wilkie threw the puck toward the net and Poganski deflected it in. The St. Cloud, Minn. native now has 10 goals while on the man advantage this season.

Pionk scored at 7:27 of the second and the Musketeers led 3-1.

Later in the period, Tri-City was whistled for too many men on the ice and head coach Jim Hulton was called for abuse of officials, putting the Storm down two men for two minutes.

While attempting to kill off the 5-on-3, it appeared that Tri-City got the bounce they needed to get back in the game as Poganski stole a puck and went all the way to the Musketeer net, scoring a shorthanded goal.

The tally cut the lead to 3-2 and was the North Dakota commit’s third goal while shorthanded this season. It also gives Tri-City 11 total shorthanded goals as a team, which leads the USHL.

However, as play resumed, Sioux City converted with just two seconds left on their power play, with former Storm forward Joel L’Esperance registering the backbreaking goal on a one-timer in front.

Tri-City couldn’t recover, surrendering one more third period tally to Sioux City’s Jake Montgomery and falling 5-2.

There were two fights in the final half of the game, with both Conner Valesano and Donovan Gardiner each dropping the gloves against Tyler Mueller and Jake Montgomery respectively.

Johansson finished with 30 saves for the Storm in the loss, while Kyle Hayton picked up the win in between the pipes for Sioux City, making 29 stops. The Musketeers outshot Tri-City 35-31 in the game, and both teams tallied one goal on the power play.

The Storm will return to action next weekend when they host the Green Bay Gamblers for a two-game series in Kearney. The action starts on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and continues Saturday at 7:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Joey DiBenedetto, and Patrick Curry, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson and Tory Dello…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Sioux City – Kyle Schmidt (Sam Saliba, Avery Peterson) 3:33
Sioux City – Brock Boeser (Neal Pionk, Avery Peterson) 15:58
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Chris Wilkie) 17:49

2nd Period

Sioux City – Neal Pionk (Avery Peterson, Joel L’Esperance) 7:27
Tri-City – Austin Poganski (shorthanded) (unassisted) 12:02
Sioux City – Joel L’Esperance (power play) (Walteri Hopponen, Sam Saliba) 12:21

3rd Period

Sioux City – Jake Montgomery (Jared Thomas, Jake Cass) 11:03

PENALTIES

1st Period

Sioux City – Brock Boeser – (Hooking), 2 min, 17:11
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:26
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:26
Sioux City – Joe Snively – (Roughing), 2 min, 19:26

2nd Period

Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Roughing), 2 min, 8:16
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Charging), 2 min, 8:16
Sioux City – Neal Pionk – (Roughing), 2 min, 8:16
Tri-City – Bench Minor – (Too Many Men), 2 min, 10:23
Tri-City – Jim Hulton – (Abuse of Officials), 2 min, 10:23
Sioux City – Jake Cass – (Interference), 2 min, 13:18
Sioux City – Jerad Rosburg – (Slashing), 2 min, 18:17
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Fighting), 5 min, 19:22
Sioux City – Tyler Mueller – (Fighting), 5 min, 19:22

3rd Period

Tri-City – Donovan Gardiner – (Fighting), 5 min, 1:49
Sioux City – Jake Montgomery – (Fighting), 5 min, 1:49
Tri-City – Patrick Curry – (High Sticking), 2 min, 7:50
Sioux City – Neal Pionk – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 17:54
Sioux City – Neal Pionk – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 17:54
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 18:29
Tri-City – Chase Berger – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 18:29

Power Play

Sioux City –1/6

Tri-City – 1/4

Shots

Sioux City: 14, 9, 12, = Total: 35
Tri-City: 16, 5, 10, = Total: 31

Saves

Sioux City – Kyle Hayton – 29/31
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 30/35

KEARNEY, Neb. – A night after a third period comeback, the Muskegon Lumberjacks (24-22-4) completed a repeat performance, scoring three straight goals to erase an early deficit and win 4-3 over the Tri-City Storm (18-31-3) on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Storm forwards Austin Poganski and Dan Labosky each had a goal and an assist in the defeat for Tri-City, while defenseman Jalen Schulz scored his second goal of the season on a power play in the second period.

The game had an eerily similar script to Friday night’s contest. Just like the previous night, both teams held each other off the scoreboard for the majority of the opening period and each team notched a tally in the closing minutes of the frame.

After a penalty to Muskegon defenseman Adam Larkin for interference, the Storm went to the power play with less than three minutes remaining in the first. Chase Berger won the face-off to open the man advantage and got the puck to Labosky, who found Poganski in the perfect place for a re-direct that found its way to the twine.

The Lumberjacks tied the game at 1-1 with just five seconds remaining in the period on a goal by Trevor Morbeck, sending the teams into the first intermission with an even score.

In the second period Tri-City once again took control of the game, getting goals from both Labosky and Schulz.

For the second consecutive night, Labosky found himself within striking distance and used a quick blast to beat Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn, giving Tri-City their second lead of the night at 2-1.

Later in the frame, Schulz put a puck toward the net and watched it redirect past Schierhorn for his second tally of the year to make it 3-1.

But Jack Rowe responded for Muskegon to cut the lead to 3-2 with his 13th goal of the season at 15:47 of the period.

In the final frame, the Lumberjacks got goals from Matej Paulovic and Cooper Marody to take the lead while holding the Storm quiet on the offensive end.

Tri-City goaltender Jacob Johansson saw 39 shots come his way, stopping 35 of them, while Schierhorn made 23 saves of his own to pick up the win.

The Storm will return to action next Saturday night, taking on the Sioux City Musketeers in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Kyle Eastman, and Patrick Curry, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson and Tory Dello…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Tri-City – Austin Poganski (power play) (Daniel Labosky, Chase Berger) 17:52

Muskegon – Trevor Morbeck (Matt Iacopelli, Mason Jobst) 19:55

2nd Period

Tri-City – Dan Labosky (Chase Berger, Austin Poganski) 4:39
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz (power play) (Kevin Kerr, Garrett Gamez) 13:04
Muskegon – Jack Rowe (Robbie DeMontis, Janik Moeser) 15:47

3rd Period

Muskegon – Matej Paulovic (Christopher Dodero) 7:22

Muskegon – Cooper Marody (Chase Hatcher) 10:27

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Donovan Gardiner – (Hooking), 2 min, 0:26
Tri-City – Grant Hutton – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 2:00
Muskegon – Adam Larkin – (Interference), 2 min, 17:47

2nd Period

Muskegon – Trevor Morbeck – (High Sticking), 2 min, 8:10
Muskegon – Cooper Marody – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:21
Tri-City – Donovan Gardiner – (Fighting), 5 min, 17:29
Muskegon – Matt Iacopelli – (Fighting), 5 min, 17:29
Muskegon – Matt Iacopelli – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 17:29

3rd Period

Tri-City – Grant Hutton – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Jack Rowe – (Fighting), 5 min, 2:59
Tri-City – Joey DiBenedetto – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Mason Jobst – (Roughing), 2 min, 2:59
Muskegon – Daniel Willett – (Holding), 2 min, 3:54
Tri-City – Daniel Fritz – (Hooking), 2 min, 16:43

Power Play

Muskegon –0/3

Tri-City – 2/5

Shots

Muskegon: 13, 12, 14, = Total: 39
Tri-City: 9, 10, 7, = Total: 26

Saves

Muskegon – Eric Schierhorn – 23/26
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 35/39

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Muskegon Lumberjacks (23-22-4) used a three-goal third period to defeat the Tri-City Storm (18-30-3) by a score of 4-3 in the first of a two-game weekend series on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Storm defenseman Daniel Fritz scored his first USHL goal in his 35th career game, while forwards Dan Labosky and Conner Valesano each netted tallies in the loss for Tri-City.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first 18 minutes of the game, but both teams scored in the final two minutes of the opening period and the game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

With Storm forward Garrett Gamez sitting in the box for a slashing penalty, the Lumberjacks capitalized, taking a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by defenseman Christian Wolanin.

Tri-City tied things right back up when Fritz got his first strike of the season less than a minute later. A clearing attempt took a bounce off a skate and landed on the stick of the Harwood, Md. native, who stepped into a shot that went over the right shoulder of Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn.

The Storm opened up a two-goal lead in the second, capitalizing on offensive opportunities less than two minutes apart from each other.

First, Labosky took a pass from Cody Milan and turned on his wheels, beating everyone up the ice and wristing a shot to the upper right corner of the Muskegon net to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead. With the assist, Milan now has his longest point streak of the season at three games.

Then Garrett Gamez found Valesano for a one-timer 1:11 later to push the Storm lead to 3-1. Forward Austin Poganski notched the second assist, his ninth helper and 24th point of the year.

Later in the middle period, Storm netminder Jacob Johansson did his best to preserve the lead, stopping 17 shots in the frame. Tri-City held on to their two-goal edge to start the final period.

But the bounces weren’t as kind to the Storm in the final 20 minutes, and the Lumberjacks scored three consecutive goals to re-take the lead and win the game 4-3.

The final tallies were scored by Christopher Dodero, Adam Larkin and Matej Paulovic.

Schierhorn picked up his 14th win of the season in net, making 29 saves, while Johansson stopped 38 shots for Tri-City in the loss.

The two teams will line up for a rematch on Saturday night at the Viaero Event Center with the opening face-off taking place at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel, Drew Mayer, Kyle Eastman, and Joey DiBenedetto, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang, Fredric Larsson and Tory Dello…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Muskegon – Christian Wolanin (Jack Rowe, Mason Jobst) 18:12
Tri-City – Daniel Fritz (unassisted) 19:10

2nd Period

Tri-City – Dan Labosky (Cody Milan) 7:35
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Garrett Gamez, Austin Poganski) 8:46

3rd Period

Muskegon – Christopher Dodero (Cullen Hurley, Adam Larkin) 2:05

Muskegon – Adam Larkin (Matej Paulovic, Christopher Dodero) 6:33

Muskegon – Matej Paulovic (Adam Larkin, Christopher Dodero) 11:27

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Holding), 2 min, 13:10
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Slashing), 2 min, 17:50

2nd Period

Muskegon – Cullen Hurley – (Hooking), 2 min, 4:47
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 18:51

3rd Period

Muskegon – Joseph Cecconi – (Hooking), 2 min, 13:17

Power Play

Muskegon –1/3

Tri-City – 0/2

Shots

Muskegon: 13, 17, 12, = Total: 42
Tri-City: 9, 10, 13, = Total: 32

Saves

Muskegon – Eric Schierhorn – 29/32
Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 38/42

KEARNEY, Neb. – Chris Wilkie is one of four homegrown Nebraska boys in the United States Hockey League.  The Omaha native is a popular player for the Tri-City Storm, leading his team with 15 goals and 31 points in his first season in Kearney.

Scouts have followed Wilkie through his junior hockey career, and have ranked him 111th out of all North American skaters eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft.

Wilkie’s road to Kearney has had its challenges, as the forward went from playing for his father with the Omaha Under-16 AAA Lancers team to the U.S. National Under-17 team. While with Team USA during the 2012-13 season, Wilkie netted 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 56 games.

Although Wilkie decided to part ways with USA’s development program after one year, he elected to stay in the USHL. Tri-City selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the Phase II Draft last summer, making him the first Nebraska-raised player to play for the franchise.

The Wilkies are a hockey family. Chris’ dad David had an eight-year professional career that included time in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.

“I was always in locker rooms and around pro athletes,” said Wilkie. “I fell in love with the game and was fascinated with the players, sticks and equipment. Seeing my dad play made me want to pursue a career in hockey.”

While with the USNTDP in Ann Arbor, Wilkie accepted a scholarship to play collegiately for the University of North Dakota. Now he’s preparing for college life while working on his game, trying to get better each day.

Measuring at 5’11, Wilkie had his inconsistencies early on this year, but has turned his season around while going through a coaching change and getting used to new teammates.

In mid-November, Tri-City decided to part ways with then head coach Josh Hauge, in favor of Jim Hulton, who has previous experience at both the junior and professional levels of hockey.

“Since coach Hulton has taken over he’s held me accountable defensively,” Wilkie said. “If I don’t play the right way then I won’t get any ice time. My linemates and I have been really clicking lately and I think it’s only getting better.

Hulton said that when he’s at his best, Wilkie can make things happen on the offensive end.

“He’s a very talented young man,” Hulton said of Wilkie. “When he stays within himself and the game plan and plays a team game, he’s a highly effective player.”

Wilkie found his rhythm at the start of 2014, after missing two games with an injury. Right away, Wilkie went on a tear, scoring a point in nine straight games from Jan. 8-31.

The 17-year-old enjoys relaxing with best friend and fellow teammate, Tory Dello. The duo lives with the same billet family while attending Kearney High School together.

Wilkie also admits the two enjoy watching some of the latest chick flicks.

“There are a couple good chick flicks that we enjoy,” laughed Wilkie. “The most recent one we watched was ‘The Lucky One’; that’s my favorite right now.”

This summer Wilkie hopes to hear his name called in the NHL Entry Draft, which takes place in PhiladelphiaJune 27-28. The future member of the Fighting Sioux is keeping his mind right and is focused on the reaming 10 games of the season for Tri-City

“I would be okay with any team drafting me, but it would be cool if it were the Canadiens, because that was the team my dad played for,” Wilkie said.

Hulton is excited for the prospect’s future as well.

“I think he’s got a great future,” Hulton said. “One thing you can’t teach someone is pure talent. He’s a good kid who likes to play with his teammates, has a good attitude, and is nice to have in the locker room. I think when his worth ethic catches up and matches his talent he’s going to be a very effective player in the higher levels.”

The Storm are getting ready for five straight games at the Viaero Event Center starting this weekend with a series against the Muskegon Lumberjacks beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Storm fans will have a chance to get a look at the team’s future during March as Tri-City will be bringing in some of their high school affiliate players in to play games.

In the USHL, affiliate players are selected during the USHL Draft, but play elsewhere the following season. USHL teams maintain the rights to their affiliate players and use them to play on a part-time basis until they are ready to be placed on the roster full-time.

Each team has 18 total affiliate spots for players born in 1995, 1996 and 1997. All current Storm affiliates are ages 16-18.

This past weekend, Storm fans got to see Matthew Freytag, Tri-City’s second round pick in the 2013 USHL Phase I Draft. Freytag, who is from Wayzata, Minn. and is committed to the University of Wisconsin, played in his first three USHL games against Lincoln and Fargo over the weekend.

Three more Storm affiliates will make their USHL debut this weekend. They include Jake Wahlin, Mike Lee and Alec Mehr.

Wahlin was acquired from Sioux City in a trade that sent Joel L’Esperance to the Musketeers in January. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Wahlin was originally drafted by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2012 USHL Futures Draft.

Wahlin spent his season with White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota and will wear No. 12 for the rest of the year. The forward is committed to play collegiately at the University of Massachusetts.

Lee and Mehr are teammates at The Gunnery Preparatory School in Washington, Conn. and are expected to play in both games this weekend against Muskegon.

Lee, a defenseman who hails from Hamden, Conn., was drafted by the Storm in the seventh round of the 2013 USHL Phase II Draft. He is committed to play in the Hockey East with the University of Vermont and will wear No. 2 for Tri-City.

Mehr, a forward who grew up in Irvine, Calif. before relocating to play in prep school, was picked in the eighth round of the 2013 Phase I Draft. He will wear jersey No. 27.

Other affiliates expected to play in games during the final month of the season include forward Karch Bachman and defensemen Gordie Myer, Jason Krych and Michael Joyaux.

Bachman has two games of USHL experience, playing with the Storm against Team USA in November. Joyaux has also appeared in three games this season.

Tri-City has 10 games remaining in the 2013-14 season, and will play six more contests in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center.

The Storm are back in action Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as they host a weekend series with Muskegon. Saturday’s game will get underway at 7:05.