KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm owner Kirk Brooks announced Monday that head coach and general manager Josh Hauge has been relieved of his coaching duties.

Under Hauge’s guidance, which spanned parts of three seasons, the Storm had an overall record of 46-62-10.

“On behalf of the entire organization we want to thank Josh for his time and the commitment he made to being our head coach and wish him the best moving forward,” said Brooks, who has owned the team since 2009. “I believe we’ve done everything in terms of providing our coaching staff and players with the tools necessary to win hockey games, but in the end we still feel the team is underachieving and felt it was time to make a change.”

 Brooks expects to name a new head coach at a press conference on Tuesday, November 19 at the Viaero Event Center.

Hauge was originally hired by Brooks as an assistant coach prior to the 2011-12 season, but was promoted to head coach after just 21 games on Dec. 7, 2011. In the final 39 games of the regular season, Hauge led the team to a 20-18-1 record and secured a playoff berth, finishing in sixth in the USHL’s Western Conference.

During the 2012-13 campaign, Hauge’s first full season as head coach and general manager, the Storm finished at the bottom of the conference standings with an overall record of 22-35-7.

So far this season through 15 games, Tri-City has a record of 4-9-2, tied for sixth in the conference. The Storm sit 11 points back of fourth place, the final playoff spot.

Before the Storm, Hauge spent six seasons coaching the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (North American Hockey League), and served as the head coach for the last three of them. In 2011, Hauge won the Robertson Cup as the Champion of the NAHL and compiled an overall regular-season record of 111-49-15.

Hauge’s contract will be honored through the end of the season.

Tri-City will hit the road once again this weekend for three games away from home. The Storm take on the Chicago Steel on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and then continue on to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on the USA 17-and-under team on both Saturday night at 7:00 and Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Sioux Falls Stampede (11-5-2) took an early lead, scoring three goals in the first period and controlled the entire game, shutting out the Tri-City Storm (4-9-2) 6-0 at the Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday night.

Storm goaltender Hayden Lavigne came on in relief for Jacob Johansson and made 24 saves while playing 48 minutes.

Of the three first period goals the Stampede scored, two came off the stick of defenseman Chad Duchesne. The blueliner had just one goal on the season to date, but was a big reason Sioux Falls was able to take a commanding 3-0 lead after the opening frame.

Forward Dennis Kravchenko also scored a power play goal in the first, the second goal of the night for Sioux Falls.

After Duchesne’s second goal, the Storm pulled Johansson, who’s night ended after allowing three goals on eight shots in 11:30 of play.

Stampede forward Keith Burchett scored at 1:41 of the second, the only goal of the frame, to make it 4-0.

Goals by Griffen Molino and C.J. Franklin added to the score in the third, sealing the eleventh win of the season for the Stampede.

Tri-City will head to Chicago next week to face the Steel on Friday night in Bensenville, Ill. before heading on to Ann Arbor, Mich. for two battles with the USA 17-and-under squad on Saturday and Sunday.

The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series with the Omaha Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.
Notes: The Storm scratched forward Joey DiBenedetto and defensemen Sean Lang and Jalen Schulz. Forward Drew Mayer was also scratched, serving a five-game suspension.…

 

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Sioux Falls – Chad Duchesne (Zeb Knutson, C.J. Franklin) 4:08

Sioux Falls – Dennis Kravchenko (power play) (C.J. Franklin, Bo Pellah) 5:11

Sioux Falls – Chad Duchesne (unassisted) 11:30

2nd Period

Sioux Falls – Keith Burchett (Dakota Joshua, Tony Calderone) 1:41

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Griffen Molino (Logan O’Connor) 7:30

Sioux Falls – C.J. Franklin (Zeb Knutson, Dennis Kravchenko) 16:35

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Kevin Kerr – (Interference), 2 min, 4:28

Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Roughing), 2 min, 13:14

Sioux Falls – Joe Schuldt – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 13:14

Sioux Falls – Joe Schuldt – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:41

2nd Period

Sioux Falls – Bo Pellah – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 2:27
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Slashing), 2 min, 6:57

Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Hooking), 2 min, 12:42

3rd Period

Sioux Falls – Joe Schuldt – (Kneeing), 2 min, 12:42
Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 14:11

Sioux Falls – Bo Pellah – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 14:11

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/3

Sioux Falls – 1/3

Shots

Tri-City: 3, 5, 10 = Total: 24

Sioux Falls: 11, 13, 11 = Total: 35

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 5/8, Hayden Lavigne – 24/27

Sioux Falls – David Jacobson – 18/18

DUBUQUE, Ia. – In a back and forth affair that saw both teams lose leads, the Dubuque Fighting Saints (10-3-1) scored two goals in the final half of the third period and defeated the Tri-City Storm (4-8-2) 6-4 on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

The Storm got goals from Chris Wilkie, Cutler Martin, Chase Berger and Christian Horn in defeat, while Kevin Kerr scored his first USHL point, picking up an assist.

Tri-City opened the scoring just 4:56 into the game on a perfectly executed passing play in front of the Dubuque net. Martin found Wilkie in front and the forward tapped in his third goal of the season to make it 1-0. Forward Ross Olsson had the second assist on the goal.

But the Fighting Saints responded, scoring three straight goals in the opening period to take a 3-1 lead at the end of one frame. Defenseman Dylan Chanter scored with an extra attacker on a delayed penalty call, while forwards Max McHugh and Robbie Darrar also tallied goals in the opening period for Dubuque.

The Storm came out with momentum in the second however, and scored two consecutive goals to tie up the game, 3-3.

Martin found the back of the net for the first time this season at 2:16 and made it a 3-2 game. Then it was Chase Berger who tied things up, scoring his fourth of the season in front from Kerr on an abbreviated power play.

Dubuque regained the lead less than three minutes after Berger tied it, taking advantage of an extended five-on-three advantage. Shane Eiserman scored the goal with assists from Dylan Gambrell and Seamus Malone.

The Saints had a 4-3 lead heading into the third, but Tri-City tied things up once again on a power play goal by Christian Horn. It was Horn’s second tally of the year, as he took a pass from forward Joel L’Esperance and beat former Storm goaltender Christian Frey to make it 4-4.

With just over eight minutes remaining in the game, the Saints took advantage of a miscommunication in the Tri-City end and the puck wound up in the back of the net. Andrew Gaus was credited with the unassisted goal and Dubuque had the lead for good.

A final tally from Jason Ford sealed the win for the Fighting Saints, who are undefeated (7-0-0) in front of their home fans in Dubuque.

Tri-City will continue on to Sioux Falls, where they will face the Stampede on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series with the Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.

 

Notes: The Storm scratched forward Joey DiBenedetto and defensemen Sean Lang and Jalen Schulz. Forward Drew Mayer was also scratched, serving a five-game suspension.…

 

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Cutler Martin, Ross Olsson) 4:53

Dubuque – Dylan Chanter (extra attacker) (Blake Hillman, Eric Robinson) 8:36

Dubuque – Max McHugh (Brett Boeing, Phil Boje) 12:12

Dubuque – Robby Darrar (power play) (Jarrid Privitera, Dylan Gambrell) 15:16

2nd Period

Tri-City – Cutler Martin (unassisted) 2:16

Tri-City – Chase Berger (power play) (Kevin Kerr) 11:28

Dubuque – Shane Eiserman (power play) (Dylan Gambrell, Seamus Malone) 14:05

3rd Period

Tri-City – Christian Horn (power play) (Joel L’Esperance) 3:51

Dubuque – Andrew Gaus (unassisted) 11:48

Dubuque – Jason Ford (Robby Darrar, Eric Robinson) 14:23

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 13:21

Dubuque – Seamus Malone – (Interference), 2 min, 17:38

2nd Period

Tri-City – Cutler Martin – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:40

Dubuque – Shane Eiserman – (Fighting), 5 min, 5:40

Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:26

Tri-City – Christian Horn – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:11

Dubuque – Robby Darrar – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 9:44

Dubuque – Robby Darrar – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 9:44

Dubuque – Max McHugh – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 13:02

Tri-City – Nolan Gluchowski – (Delay of Game), 2 min, 13:02

Tri-City – Garrett Cecere – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 13:02

Tri-City – Garrett Cecere – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:02

Tri-City – Nick Hutchison – (Slashing), 2 min, 13:31

3rd Period

Dubuque – Eric Robinson – (Hooking), 2 min, 2:25

Tri-City – Ross Olsson – (Charging), 2 min, 6:21

Tri-City – Ross Olsson – (High Sticking), 2 min, 16:10

Dubuque – Phil Boje – (Roughing), 2 min, 16:10

Power Play

Tri-City – 2/3

Dubuque – 2/6

Shots

Tri-City: 7, 13, 4 = Total: 24

Dubuque: 15, 16, 10 = Total: 41

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 35/41

Dubuque – Christian Frey – 20/24

KEARNEY, Neb. – Four Tri-City Storm players signed on the dotted line Wednesday afternoon, making their collegiate commitments official during the first day of the fall NCAA national letter of intent period.

The players included defensemen Nolan Gluchowski and Cutler Martin, forward Drew Mayer and goaltender Hayden Lavigne.

Martin and Lavigne are headed to the University of Michigan, while Gluchowski will attend St. Lawrence and Mayer will play for Ferris State.

While the letter doesn’t mean the players will be at their respective schools next season, it takes the commitment past the verbal stage and confirms the school has pledged an athletic scholarship to each of the signees.

Mayer, who is one of the older players with the Storm at 20-years-old, said he’s been working for this day for a long time.

“It was a dream come true,” said Mayer. “I’m going to come in as a 21-year-old and hopefully I can bring leadership as a freshman. Being one of the older guys here is helping me out a lot and I’m very excited for next season.”

Martin, who will join one of the most prestigious programs in the country, was also excited to make it official.

“It feels amazing,” Martin said. “I’ve been looking forward to signing this for a long time and it’s great to get the ink down on the paper.

Tri-City will now take to the road for a five-game trip away from home that starts in Dubuque with the Fighting Saints on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and continues in Sioux Falls for a battle with the Stampede on Saturday at 7:05.

The Storm return home to face the Omaha Lancers on back-to-back nights Nov. 29-30. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or online atstormhockey.com.

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm announced additions to the 2013-14 promotions schedule Tuesday, adding four new theme nights which will increase added value for fans who attend the selected games.

The four new themes include Seinfeld Night on Jan. 10, Taste of Nebraska on Jan. 24, Olympic Night on Jan. 31 and I Love Country Night on Mar. 1.

“Our fans have responded very positively to the value added promotions thus far and we recognized more opportunities to increase value for select games later in the season,” said Kyle Means, Vice President of the Storm’s marketing and game operations. “It’s our goal as a staff to create something unique that fans can enjoy each and every game.”

Seinfeld Night will be a twenty-fifth anniversary tribute to the classic ‘show about nothing’ when Tri-City battles Omaha. It will become part of Turn Back The Clock weekend at the Viaero Event Center, adding to Hairband Night onJanuary 11.

Taste of Nebraska Night will showcase some of the great local products that are made in the Storm’s home state of Nebraska. Fans will be able to sample and purchase these local foods at tables set up throughout the concourse as the Storm face the Sioux Falls Stampede.

With the Winter Olympics in Sochi fast approaching, the Storm will hold their own night of competition on the final day of January when the Des Moines Buccaneers come to town.

On March 1, the Storm have replaced the previously announced Garden Gnome Giveaway with I Love Country Night as they take on the Fargo Force. The country music themed game will also feature specials on bacon and beer.

Tri-City is heading out on the road for a five-game trip away from home, but when they return there will be plenty of excitement at the Viaero Event Center. Upcoming holiday themes include the popular Ugly Sweater Night on Nov. 30and Stuff Your Stocking Night on Dec. 13.

For single game tickets to any game on the Storm’s 2013-14 schedule, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at308.338.8011 or log on to stormhockey.com.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm forward Austin Poganski and Team USA defeated Russia 4-1 to earn a gold medal in the World Junior A Challenge on Sunday in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

It is the fifth gold medal in the last six years for USA, a team that consists entirely of United States Hockey League talent.

This year’s squad, made up of 22 USHL players, had a perfect 4-0-0 record and outscored their opponents 23-10 en route to the championship.

Poganski was in the lineup during all four wins, and recorded an assist in the final game on a goal by Andrew Oglevie, who plays for Cedar Rapids.

The St. Cloud, Minn. native missed four Storm contests while he was in Canada, but he will rejoin the team this week and is expected to be in the lineup when Tri-City travels for games in Dubuque and Sioux Falls this weekend.

The Storm will take on the Fighting Saints on Friday at the Mystique Community Ice Center at 7:30 p.m. before facing the Stampede at Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday at 7:05.

Both games can be heard on The Breeze 94.5 FM, the official Storm Radio Network.

This is the first of two consecutive road weekends for Tri-City, who will return home for a weekend series with the Omaha Lancers at the Viaero Event Center on Nov. 29-30.

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Omaha Lancers (11-2-1) got ahead early and stayed in front, defeating the Tri-City Storm (4-7-2) 5-2 on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Joel L’Esperance and Chris Wilkie each scored late goals to keep the Storm in the game. For L’Esperance, it was his team-leading fifth tally, while Wilkie notched his second of the year.

The Storm had the better of the play for a large part of the opening period, but were unable to capitalize on their many chances and the game stayed scoreless late into the frame.

USHL leading scorer Jake Randolph netted his seventh goal of the season on a Lancer power play with1:13 left on the clock in the first to give Omaha a 1-0 lead at the end of one.

To start the second period, the Lancers converted for the second time on a power play. Brendan Smith sniffed out an open Tucker Poolman, who rocketed one past Jacob Johansson that hit the upper corner of the net and put Omaha up 2-0.

The Lancers scored their third goal five minutes later when Randolph contributed once again, feeding the puck to fellow Lancer Jake Henderson, who scored his first goal of the season. Omaha led 3-0 after 40 minutes of play.

In the final period, Tri-City got themselves on the scoreboard with two goals. The Brighton, Mich. native L’Esperance scored the Storm’s first goal of the evening on a nice feed from forward Steven Haydon.

Then while the Storm had an extra attacker on the ice in place of their goaltender Jacob Johansson, Wilkie found the back of the net off a loose rebound in front for the second Tri-City tally of the night.

Johansson finished the evening with 26 saves, while Omaha’s Cole Bruns picked up his seventh win of the season, making 30 stops of his own.

Tri-City will take to the road, beginning a five game trip that starts with Dubuque next Friday at 7:35 p.m.The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series, a rematch with the Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Austin Poganski, Sean Lang, Nick Hutchison and forward Drew Mayer was also scratched, serving a five-game suspension.…

  SCORING SUMMARY

 1st Period

Omaha – Jake Randolph (power play) (Tyler Vessel, Tucker Poolman) 18:47

2nd Period

Omaha – Tucker Poolman (power play) (Brendan Smith, Jake Randolph) 1:12

Omaha – Jake Henderson (Jake Randolph, Tucker Poolman) 6:55

3rd Period

Omaha – Connor Light (unassisted) 0:48

Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance (Steven Haydon, Christian Horn) 13:24

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (extra attacker) (Christian Horn, Nolan Gluchowski) 18:16

Omaha – Tyler Hynes (empty net) (Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Luca Frigo) 18:50

PENALTIES

 1st Period

Omaha – Brendan Smith – (Holding), 2 min, 6:04

Tri-City – Ross Olson – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:05

Omaha – Louie Rowe – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:05

Omaha – Jake Henderson – (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:05

Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:04

Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Slashing), 2 min, 19:39

2nd Period

Omaha – Connor Light – (Holding), 2 min, 15:06

Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Slashing), 2 min, 17:22
3rd Period

Tri-City – Joey Dibenedetto – (Checking from behind), 2 min, 2:28

Omaha – Matt Nelson – (Interferecne), 2 min, 4:43

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Tripping), 2 min, 9:35

Omaha – Tyler Hynes – (Hooking), 2 min, 16:01

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/5

Omaha – 2/5

Shots

Tri-City: 13, 4, 14 = Total: 31

Omaha: 14, 9, 9 = Total: 32

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 27/31

Omaha – Cole Bruns – 29/31

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm organization has teamed up with Central Community College in a pledge to stand up and prevent bullying across central Nebraska.

The campaign, which kicked off at the CCC campus in Hastings on Oct. 28, will continue at the Viaero Event Center during the Storm game on Friday Nov. 8, where a bullying prevention pledge banner will be on display for fans to sign.

Storm players and staff appeared on campus and encouraged students to take the pledge to stand against bullying.

This is an effort which both organizations plan to build on throughout the year.

“We’re excited to team up with CCC for this campaign,” said Alicia Korte, the Storm’s group sales and customer relations manager. “October was National Bullying Prevention Month and we thought this was the perfect time to start our campaign and have a CCC group night. Bullying affects people of all ages and we are making sure the issue gets the attention it deserves.”

When the Storm take on the Omaha Lancers on Friday, Central Community College will have a presence at the game, bringing a group of students, faculty and staff.

If you are a member of CCC and wish to attend the group night, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at308.338.8011 for group pricing information.

The Friday night game is the only contest of the week for Tri-City, who will hit the road until later in the month, when they return to Kearney to once again face the Lancers on Nov. 29 and 30.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Each month during the season the Tri-City Storm will be selecting a group of former players to recognize for their contributions on the ice at the next level. For the first month, the selections are Cole Gunner, Dan Kolomatis and Scott Diebold, all three of whom have had great starts for their schools in the collegiate ranks.

Playing for the Air Force Falcons of the Atlantic Hockey Association, junior forward Cole Gunner has been a big part of his team’s early success. Gunner has scored five goals and three assists in his first eight games. His point total is third-best in Atlantic Hockey and the five goals rank second in the conference.

Two of Gunner’s five goals have been game-winners, which is also tops in his conference. The Richfield, Minn. native was named Atlantic Hockey player of the month on Oct. 31 for his performance. The Falcons have gotten off to a 5-3-0 start, including a 3-1-0 record in conference and a 4-0-0 record at home.

During his time with the Storm, Gunner had seven goals and four assists in 16 games, coming over midway through the 2010-11 season in a trade with Chicago.

Kolomatis, who is a junior defenseman at Merrimack College, has seen his offensive game blossom early on this season, scoring two goals and five assists. He is currently third in scoring among defenseman in the Hockey East.

After a five-point weekend in two games against Mercyhurst, the Basking Ridge, N.J. native was named the Hockey East Player of the Week on Oct. 21.

With the Storm in 2010-11, Kolomatis appeared in 41 games and scored two goals and 10 assists.

Diebold, who is with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been one of the top goaltenders in the NCAA this fall. The netminder currently ranks fourth nationally with a .946 save percentage and fifth in the country with a goals against average of 1.58.

The Buffalo, N.Y. native has four wins for RPI, who has a record of 5-2-1 and is ranked No. 10 in the latest USCHO.com poll.

The goaltender played 35 games in between the pipes for the Storm during the 2010-11 season and had 10 wins with a GAA of 2.75 and a save percentage of .913.

The Storm have just one contest this weekend, as they battle the Omaha Lancers on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.