Tri-City Storm Draft Preview
The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft.
61 players have been drafted by NHL teams since the Tri-City Storm’s inception in 2000.
Bernd Bruckler, a goaltender on the Storm's inaugural team (2000-01), was the first drafted player (Philadelphia Flyers – 150
th overall). The highest pick in Storm history is
Jaden Schwartz, who went #14 overall to the St. Louis Blues in 2010.
The Tri-City Storm have had at least one player selected in the NHL Draft for nine straight years and in 2022 they saw three players taken, forwards
Daimon Gardner (Vancouver Canucks – 112
th overall),
Cole O’Hara (Nashville Predators – 114
th overall), and
Cameron O’Neill (Ottawa Senators – 143
rd overall).
The Storm look to make it 10 seasons in a row with an NHL Draft pick their 2023 and their draft prospects include players such as
Tanner Adams (ranked #101 amongst North American Skaters),
Gavin Brindley (#23 amongst North American Skaters),
Cameron Korpi (#20 amongst North American Goalies),
Patriks Berzins (#22 amongst North American Goalies), and
Seth Constance (#219 amongst North American Skaters).
Top Prospects for 2023
Tanner Adams | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #101
College Commitment: Providence College
Adams tallied 12 goals and 21 assists for a career high 33 points in 49 games for the Storm this season. He represented Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge where he had the primary assist on the game-tying goal vs. Sweden in the semi-finals. In 2022 Adams was a part of the U.S. Team that won the U17 Four Nations Tournament and he also represented the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Gavin Brindley | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #97
College Commitment: University of Minnesota
Brindley played in 102 games for the Stars from 2020 to 2022. In his rookie season he 22 points (9G-13A) in 51 games earning a spot on the USHL All-Rookie Second Team. During the 2021-22 season he notched 15 goals and 28 assists for 42 points in 51 games to help the Storm claim the Anderson Cup. In his rookie season with Michigan in 2002-23 Brindley put up 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points in 41 games, earning Honorable Mention All-B1G honors. He was also a part of the 2023 World Junior Championship team that won bronze in January.
The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last five NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 990 of its players selected in total, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981.