General Game Notes: A close game with the score tied late in the third period until Ryan Smith sealed the deal for the Storm unassisted as well as shorthanded. A back and forth game showed both teams were willing to battle it out and prove to one another that someone wanted it more. Tonight, it was the Tri-City Storm.
| Carmelo Crandell | Tri City Storm | USHL | R | C | 5’11” | 165 | Arizona State | 2025 | St. Albert, AB | 2005 | 2023-2024: C 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Crandell was able to show his speed through the neutral zone and ability to stutter step catches defenseman off their gap. A couple times he would enter the zone out manned and create this little move that backed the coverage off and he was able to extend his possession and wait for teammates to arrive and relieve pressure. He did a good job tonight creating pressure without the puck with his relentless pursuit forcing early passes and turnovers.
| Trevor Connelly | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 156 | Providence | 2025 | Tustin, CA | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Connelly does a good job at working with the ice that he is given. On the power play he does not need much to work with given how well he can stickhandle with his head up and scan the ice. Picked up a nice assist building space along the flank, backing the defender off, and shooting a puck into traffic, getting a tip at the net front. One of the better plays he would make during the game was finding players who were open with time and space. His ability to move the puck under pressure replicates how well he moves the puck without pressure in the offensive zone.
| Ryan Smith | Tri City Storm | USHL | R | RW | 5’10” | 180 | UMass Amherst | 2024 | Pendleton, NY | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Smith opened the scoring and ended the scoring for his team in the win, having himself an productive offensive night. Probably goal of the week, the smaller speedy forward created two turnovers and a steal in the offensive zone where he attacked the net and beat the goalie with an incredible move pulling the goal side to side and beating him over the shoulder. The skilled that was shown in these thirty seconds was impressive. His combination of speed and hands was a huge reason why he was so productive during tonight’s game.
| Nolan Roed | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | C | 5’11” | 186 | St. Cloud | 2024 | White Bear Lake, MN | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Roed is a hard working player and sees the ice well. A couple things he did well tonight was create smooth breakouts. It looked a little risky at times and he likes to over handle the puck but he is not afraid to make an extra step and throw the puck cross ice or behind the back short pass to his teammates. There was not a time this did not work during the game actually but the risk is still there. Picked up a nice assist finding a seam pass on the power play showing why he is one of the more skilled players on his team.
| A.J. Lacroix | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 192 | Michigan State | 2024 | Livingston, NJ | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Lacriox showed good timing entering the zone and positioning himself well to be a back door tap in and a game tying goal. The patients and feel for the flow of the game he understands and this sets himself in good positions, like goal scoring areas. Lacroix played physical and has to because a lot of the time he floats around the goal welcoming defenseman to try and box him out. Sometimes he gets lost on the ice, next thing you know he has the puck near the net, he is elusive without the puck though his skating is not the quickest.
| Vladislav Lukashevich | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 167 | Northern Michigan | 2024 | Magadan, RUS | 2003 | 2020-2021: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Lukashevich has a unique combination of being one of the bigger defenseman on the ice while also being one of the better puck rushers. He uses his long stride to escape from pressure surprisingly quick and has the offensive awareness to make plays on entries. Some of his offense tonight came from the blue line where he is evasive and not afraid to challenge blockers or defenders until the last second. This adds some risk to his game but his stride also helps him recover back to his own end. Showed tonight that he can make a first solid breakout pass then likes to get up in the rush as second wave.
| Jake Rozzi | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 182 | Ohio State | 2024 | Kirkland, QC | 2004 | 2023-2024: C2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Rozzi has an interesting build where he is not one the taller players on the ice but he plays like it. His base is sturdy shown tonight by being hard to knock off the puck along the boards or in front of the net. Scored a nice power play goal planting himself in the slot, staying firm in his position not being moved by defenseman, and got a tip from a point shot. His offense was fine tonight getting on the board with a tip but it was how well he possessed the puck that made him stand out. He owns his space well and does not make it easy to create a turnover on him.
| Luke Posthumus | Tri City Storm | USHL | R | C | 6’0″ | 187 | Northeastern | 2024 | Ottawa, ON | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Made an impact play on one of the game tying goals getting in on the forecheck and finishing his hit, getting the puck back and finding his teammate back door for a tap in. But this play started with him showing his willingness to be physical and be hard to play against, which he did most of the game. Posthumus does a good job at getting body contact, whether that is on defense or offense. He is not afraid to create contact to make a play.
| Jake Delaney | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 224 | Miami (Ohio) | 2024 | Chicago, IL | 2004 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Delaney’s mobility was a big why he was effective showing off his offensive skills from the blue line. His ability to jump into the rush and contribute in the offensive zone made him a constant threat with and without the puck. He quarterbacked the power play effectively, distributing the puck with precision and creating scoring opportunities with vision and ability to seam through the coverage. If he showed more of a physical element to their game, especially in front of the net and along the boards, even though he did log a lot of offensive time but his overall minutes surely would increase.
| Keith McInnis | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 192 | North Dakota | 2024 | Red Deer, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B
Comments: McInnis is a presence on the ice. It is known when he in on the ice. He plays a hard game both in the neutral zone on rushes and in his own end. You can tell he takes pride in his own end with how well he battles and not willing to give up. He got beat a couple times in his own end and can work on some footwork because once that is established, it is going to be hard to make plays when McInnis is on the ice.
| Griffin Erdman | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 186 | Northeastern | 2024 | Wilmington, DE | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Erdman is an absolute work horse on the ice. Every shift he is looking to sprint to every loose puck, contests a ton of shots, and wants to win 50/50 battles. He has a solid three quick steps and stride that he uses to beat defenders with a give and go look in the offensive zone. He fights for his ice, whether that is along the wall or in front of the ice, no space goes uncontested. He plays with some grit in his game and with that does come some needed disciplinary action.
| John Mustard | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 184 | Providence | 2025 | Oradell, NJ | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: A skilled player with the puck, and Mustard has the speed, hands, and vision to create his own space and does so at top speed. He got the puck a couple times in his own end and with a blink, was behind the other teams net looking to create. He looks smooth on the ice when his stride and hands are in motion and his head is looking up usually wanting to attack himself. He has the size to take pucks off the wall, which he did multiple times, and attack scoring spaces putting his full weight into shots that if are picked correctly, are hard to stop. He did not have the scoring touch tonight but his ability to create was evident.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images