Played on Jan 23, 2026
Game Played in Young Arena
General Game Notes: January 23, 2026 – The Tri-City Storm visited the Waterloo Black Hawks in a tightly contested matchup that was deadlocked heading into the third period. Tri-City found the extra gear late, scoring the game-winning goal in regulation before adding an empty-netter to seal a 5-3 victory. Tri-City’s Connor Brown (#15) led the way with one goal and one assist.
Bode Laylin (D, R, 5’11”, 179, Tri City Storm, 11/17/2007, St. Thomas)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Laylin plays with a lot of confidence, and it shows-especially in the offensive zone. He owns strong puck skills and plays with his head up, surveying his options and making high-end plays. He is dynamic offensively, both as an effective puck mover and in finding ways to generate quality shots on net. He has a knack for waiting just long enough to open lanes, paired with a quick release that is difficult for goaltenders to read. He also does much of his work while in motion, keeping his feet moving while his hands and eyes remain in a ready position.
Carson Pilgrim (C, R, 5’11”, 176, Tri City Storm, 02/20/2006, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Pilgrim can make high-end plays, making him a threat every time he’s in the offensive zone. He has a knack for being in the right position and letting pucks find him, especially in scoring areas. Whether it’s 5-on-5 or on the power play, he consistently gets to dangerous spots and isn’t afraid to shoot. He has a quick release and a heavy shot, which creates second-chance opportunities even without screens. He scored a beautiful goal where he and his linemates executed a tic-tac-toe play off the rush, showcasing his ability to score both in transition and in the zone. He possesses high-end skill and is able to finish his chances, making him a dangerous player.
Connor Brown (C, R, 5’9″, 192, Tri City Storm, 05/03/2005, Western Michigan)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Brown is a true two-way forward who consistently prioritizes defense before jumping into the offensive game. He’s quick and relentless on the backcheck, hustling hard to disrupt plays in the defensive zone and then quickly transition the puck the other way. In the offensive zone, he’s not hesitant to pull up and attack off the rush, whether by making a quick pass or taking the puck to the net himself. One trait that stood out all night was his ability to drive hard to the net-highlighted by his game-tying goal in the third period, where he drove to the crease and buried a loose puck.
Paul Bloomer (RW, R, 5’11”, 183, Tri City Storm, 04/10/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Bloomer competes hard in all three zones, battling for pucks and doing whatever he can to help his team. He’s physical and leans on opponents, playing the hard way. He isn’t overly dangerous offensively, but he can create opportunities. For example, he scored the game-tying goal in the second period by driving the net without the puck, picking up a loose one, and roofing it through traffic. His ability to get to that spot was impressive, especially given the heavy coverage. Also notable was his play away from the puck, including his willingness to block shots in his own end-doing whatever it takes to win the hockey game.
Maddox Malmquist (LW, L, 5’9″, 159, Tri City Storm, 07/07/2008, Bemidji State)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Malmqvist gets to scoring areas with his hockey IQ and speed, sneaking behind defenders and creating good looks in the slot. He has strong skill in tight areas, able to stick-handle through traffic and put himself in positions to either finish the play himself or make quick passes.
Cam Springer (C, R, 5’11”, 188, Tri City Storm, 05/24/2006, Bowling Green)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Springer is a dependable, hard-nosed two-way forward who consistently sets the tone for his line. He leads by example and excels in doing the little things that don’t show up on the scoresheet. His forecheck is relentless, he finishes his checks with purpose, and he plays with strong puck discipline-rarely forcing risky passes or giving the puck away. He’s the type of player you want on the ice in the most intense moments. In pressure situations, he remains composed and willing to sacrifice his body for the team’s success. His leadership is evident in the way he competes every shift.
Michael Chambre (G, R, 6’2″, 186, Waterloo Black Hawks, 01/07/2005, Mercyhurst)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Chambre made several big saves throughout the game, keeping his team in it. He’s an athletic goaltender with quick feet, allowing him to arrive on pucks on time and stay square. He made many difficult saves look routine due to his strong positioning and ability to absorb shots cleanly into his body. He tracked the puck well and battled through traffic, often eliminating second chances by controlling rebounds, which showed how dialed in he was. When needed, he was able to extend and make highlight-level saves, flashing his athleticism. Overall, his structure is solid, and he possesses all the tools to project as a high-end goaltender.
Ryan Whiterabbit (D, L, 5’11”, 176, Waterloo Black Hawks, 05/15/2006, Augustana)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Whiterabbit is a solid two-way defender who logs valuable minutes in all situations. Defensively, he isn’t overly physical, but he uses his skating to shadow opponents and stay with them. He has an active stick and is strong with the puck, defending best by controlling it and moving it out of the zone. Offensively, he gets involved by pinching down the walls, keeping pucks alive, and making plays from there. He’s effective at moving the puck in all three zones and has good instincts and hockey IQ to contribute on both ends of the ice.
Tyler Deakos (RW, R, 6’1″, 177, Waterloo Black Hawks, 01/30/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Deakos is a strong straight-line skater who attacks the forecheck and plays heavy on pucks. He isn’t an overly flashy player, but he does a lot of the little things right – winning puck battles, protecting the puck, and getting to the hard areas where offense happens. He scored a goal with a heavy one-timer, but it was his pace and ability to reach the scoring area that created the opportunity. Additionally, his complete game was solid, and he was effective in all three zones.
Jakeb Lynch (C, R, 5’7″, 152, Waterloo Black Hawks, 02/09/2007, Miami (Ohio))
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lynch is a fast skater who can change direction quickly. He’s shifty and dangerous, particularly in rush scenarios. He opened the scoring by picking up a puck wide, attacking the net, and opting for a wraparound, beating the goaltender with a quick tuck at the far post. He has a quick set of hands that allows him to navigate tight spaces and get shots off in stride. When he’s using his speed and edge work, he’s difficult to defend, especially when attacking at full pace.
Atte Vikla (D, L, 5’10”, 171, Waterloo Black Hawks, 07/30/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Vikla recorded a high-end assist on the Black Hawks’ second goal of the game. He picked up the puck in the neutral zone, drove the middle lane with possession, and delivered a no-look backhand pass to a teammate who stepped into a one-timer and buried it. The play was extremely high end and highlighted Vikla’s puck skill and creativity. Defensively, Vikla can struggle at times, as he’s not overly physical and can lose puck battles, but he remains effective when the puck is on his stick. Puck retrievals and skating are central to his game, and he has the ability to make high-end plays, as evidenced on the second goal.
Avery Laliberte (D, L, 6’2″, 192, Waterloo Black Hawks, 09/17/2006, Northern Michigan)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Laliberte is a bigger defender who plays well in his own end and was effective on the penalty kill. He held his position firmly in front of the net, boxing out opponents and blocking shots when they came his way. He plays a physical game and wins a high percentage of puck battles. While he profiles more as a defensive defenseman, he shows good poise with the puck-particularly under pressure in his own zone-holding onto pucks, staying composed, and making clean plays that led to efficient breakouts.
Adyn Merrick (C, R, 6’1″, 204, Waterloo Black Hawks, 12/23/2005, Ferris State)
Game Rating
C+
1 Viewing
Comments: Merrick is heavy on pucks and has some skill to go with it. He won several puck battles and made some nice slip passes to teammates who moved onto the puck with speed. He had some good offensive looks, but was unable to capitalize.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images