KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm completed Phase II of the 2023 USHL Draft Wednesday evening at the Viaero Center in Kearney. The team’s top selection was forward Carson Pilgrim, formerly of Warroad High School (MN), and the United States National Team Development Program (USNTP/Team USA). The Storm selected Pilgrim 18th overall in the 2nd round. Tri-City made twenty-one total selections in Wednesday’s second phase of the 2023 USHL Draft. The Storm drafted thirteen forwards and eight defenseman during the Phase II Draft.
Carson Pilgrim, 17, Forward, of Warroad, Minnesota, was the Storm’s first selection in Wednesday’s Phase II Draft. Pilgrim was selected 18th overall by the Storm in the 2nd Round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. He skated in thirty-one games this season for Warroad High School (MN), and scored fifty-two goals. He also recorded forty assists for the Warriors. Pilgrim skated in seventeen games this year with Team Sanford Power (UMHSEHL). He scored five goals and recorded nine assists for fourteen total points. He played in multiple games for the United States National Team Development Program’s Under-17 squad, including three USHL games. He made his USHL debut on March 24th, 2023, in Team USA’s 5-2 road victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Pilgrim recorded his first career point in the same game on a 2nd period assist. He also notched an assist on a 2nd period goal in Team USA’s 5-4 road shootout victory against the Madison Capitols on April 2nd, 2023. Pilgrim scored seventeen goals, and recorded fourteen assists, for thirty-one total points in thirty-one games played during the 2021-2022 season for Warroad High School (MN). He also previously skated for the MN Blue OX AAA program. Pilgrim previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at the University of North Dakota. He is 5’10’, 156 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
The Storm’s next selection in the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft was forward Owen Beckner. He was selected 51st overall by the Storm in the 4th Round of the Draft. Beckner, 18, of Victoria, British Columbia, scored seventeen goals, and notched thirty-three assists, for fifty total points in fifty-three regular season games played this season for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL). He has scored two goals, and recorded seven assists, for nine total points in twelve games played in the team’s current run in the 2023 BCHL Playoffs. Beckner has helped the Silverbacks advance to play the Penticton Vees in the Interior Conference Finals. He scored four goals, and recorded six assists in forty-two games played with the team last season. Beckner also scored one goal in nine postseason games during the 2022 BCHL Playoffs with the Silverbacks. Prior to his time in Salmon Arm, he skated for the St. George’s School (CSSHL) in Vancouver, British Columbia. Beckner previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Colorado College. He is 6’1’, 175 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Tri-City’s third consecutive forward selection in the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft was Carmelo Crandell. He was selected 57th overall by the Storm in the 4th Round of the Draft. Crandell, 18, of St. Albert, Alberta, scored seventeen goals, and notched thirty-seven assists for fifty-four total points this season for the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL). He also netted five goals, and recorded six assists in twelve games played during the team’s run in the 2023 AJHL Playoffs. His Crusaders were eliminated by the Spruce Grove Saints during the Division Semifinal Round of the postseason. Crandell scored nine goals, and notched twelve assists, for twenty-one total points during the 2021-2022 regular season for the Crusaders. He provided the team’s offense with three assists in five postseason games during the 2022 AJHL Playoffs. Crandell previously skated for the St. Albert Raiders (AEHL), St. Albert Flyers (AMMHL), and the St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL) prior to his time with Sherwood Park (AJHL). He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Colgate University. Crandell is 5’11’, 170 lbs. ,and a righthanded shot.
The first defenseman selected by the Storm in Wednesday’s Phase II Draft was Brandt Harper. He was selected 82nd overall in the 6th Round by Tri-City. Harper, 16, of Tampa, Florida, scored eight goals, and recorded thirty-eight assists, for forty-six total points in fifty-seven games played this year for Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U AAA program. He skated in seventy-five games during the 2021-2022 season for the Bishop Kearney Selects 15U AAA organization. Harper netted seven goals and notched twenty-eight assists. He is 5’11’, 176 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
Cam Springer was the next player drafted by the Storm in Wednesday’s draft. He was selected 103rd overall in the 7th Round of the Phase II Draft by Tri-City. Springer, 16, Forward, of Dexter, Michigan, scored ten goals, and recorded thirteen assists, for twenty-three total points in fifteen regular season games played this year for the Compuware 16U AAA team. He also scored four goals, and notched two assists in five playoff games for the organization this season. Springer is 5’10’, 175 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
The Storm selected Tyler Dysart with the team’s next selection in the draft. Dysart, 18, Forward, of Sunnyvale, California, was the 110th overall pick in the 8th Round of the Phase II Draft. He scored fifteen goals, and recorded fourteen assists, in fifty-four games played this season for the St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL). He also scored one goal in three postseason games with the team this year. Dysart netted nine goals, and notched nineteen assists, for twenty-eight total points in forty-nine games played during the 2021-2022 season for the New Jersey Rockets (NCDC). He also scored two goals in five games played for the team in the playoffs. Dysart previously skated for the San Jose Jr. Sharks (AAA) organization prior to his time with New Jersey (NCDC) and St. Cloud (NAHL). He is 5’9’, 168 lbs., and a lefthanded shot.
Tri-City had multiple picks during the 8th round, and the team drafted defenseman Jake Delaney with its second pick of the round. Delaney, 18, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, was chosen 118th overall by Tri-City in the Phase II Draft. He scored one goal, and recorded one assist in five games played this season with the Janesville Jets (NAHL). Delaney skated in more than fifty games this year for the Chicago Fury 18U (AAA) organization. He scored twenty-one goals, and notched twenty-five assists, for forty-six total points. He skated in five playoff games with the team, and scored two goals. Delaney skated for the Midwest Knights 18U (AAA), and Chicago Fury 18U (AAA) organizations during the 2021-2022 season. He played for the Chicago Bruins 15U (AA) team prior to his career with the Fury. Delaney previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Miami University (OH). He is 6’1’, 205 lbs., and a lefthanded shot.
The next forward drafted by Tri-City in Wednesday’s draft was Nicholas Peluso. He was drafted 133rd overall in the 9th Round. Peluso, 19, of Victor, New York, skated in fifty-four regular season games this year with the Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL). He netted fifteen goals, and recorded twenty-six assists, for forty-one total points. Peluso also scored one goal, and notched five assists for the team in six games played in the 2023 BCHL Playoffs. The Bucks were eliminated in the Interior Conference Quarterfinal Round of the postseason by the Wenatchee Wild (BCHL). Peluso skated in thirty-nine games during the 2021-2022 season for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He scored three goals and recorded six assists for the Lumberjacks’ offense. He also skated in nine Clark Cup Playoff games with the team as the organization advanced to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final series against the Madison Capitols. He made his USHL debut with Muskegon on October 15th, 2021, in the team’s 6-5 home victory over the Chicago Steel. Peluso netted his first career USHL goal on October 29th, 2021, in the Lumberjacks’ 7-4 home loss against the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He skated for Bishop Kearney Selects 18U (AAA), Victor High School (NY), Rochester Selects 15U (AAA), and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 14U (AAA) prior to his first stint in the USHL. Peluso previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at the University of Maine. He is 5’10’, 157 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
Tri-City selected forward Rhys Wallin with the 148th overall pick in the 10th Round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. Wallin, 17, of Wayzata, Minnesota, scored thirteen goals, and recorded twenty-two assists, for thirty-five total points in twenty-eight games played this season for Wayzata High School (MN). He also appeared in eighteen games for Team Twin Cities Orthopedics (UMHSEHL). Wallin scored one goal and notched six assists. He scored seven goals, and recorded twenty-three assists for thirty total points for Wayzata High School during the 2021-2022 season. He previously skated for the MN Walleye 16U (AAA) program prior to his time at Wayzata High School. Wallin is 6’2, 152 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Swedish-born forward Jacob Sagadin was the Storm’s next selection in Wednesday’s Phase II Draft. Sagadin, 18, of Ljungby, Sweden, was selected 159th overall by Tri-City in the 11th Round of the Draft. He scored four goals, and recorded ten assists, for fourteen total points in thirty-nine games played during the 2022-2023 regular season for the Växjö Lakers Hockey Club (J20 Nationell). He served as the team’s Captain last season, and notched nine points in eighteen games played. He is 6’0’, 180 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Defenseman Rylan Bonkowski was drafted 163rd in the 11th Round of the Phase II Draft by Tri-City. Bonkowski, 17, of Richmond, British Columbia, scored four goals, and recorded eight assists, for twelve total points in forty-two games played this season for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL). He also scored one goal, and notched one assist in twelve postseason games played during the teams’ run to the Coastal Conference Semifinals of the 2023 BCHL Playoffs. Bonkowski appeared in twenty games during the 2021-2022 season for the Burnaby Winter Club’s U18 (CSSHL) team. He scored one goal and recorded ten assists. Bonkowski previously skated for the Delta Hockey Academy (CCSHL). He is 5’11’, 161 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
The Storm selected two consecutive defenseman after selecting Colton Whitfield 178th overall in the 12th Round of Wednesday’s draft. Whitfield, 17, of Warwick, Rhode Island, scored three goals and recorded three assists in twelve games played this season for Mount St. Charles Academy’s 16U (AAA) team. He skated in thirty games during the 2021-2022 regular season for the Cape Cod Whalers 15U (AAA) organization. Whitfield netted nine goals, and notched seventeen assists for twenty-six total points. He is 6’1’, 165 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Blake Steenerson, 18, Forward, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, was drafted 193rd overall by the Storm in the 13th Round of the USHL Phase II Draft. He netted twenty-one goals, and recorded twenty-seven assists, for forty-eight total points in thirty-one games played this season for Maple Grove High School (MN). He skated in eleven games last year for the Minot Minotauros (NAHL). Steenerson scored one goal, and recorded three assists. He also appeared in two games during the 2023 NAHL Playoffs. Steenerson skated in twenty games this year for Team Twin Cities Orthopedics (UMHSEHL). He netted fourteen goals, and recorded fifteen assists, for twenty-nine total points. Steenerson previously skated for the Minnesota Blizzard 16U (AAA), MN Walleye 15U (AAA), and Osseo-Maple Grove Bantam (AA) organization. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for the University of Vermont. Steenerson is 6’4’, 194 lbs., and is a righthanded shot.
The Storm selected forward Charlie Emme 208th overall in the 14th Round of Wednesday’s draft with the team’s next selection. Emme, 18, of Glenview, Illinois, appeared in nine games this season with the Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL). He scored one goal and notched one assist. Emme skated in fifty-two regular season games with the Chicago Reapers 18U (AAA) team. He netted twenty-five goals and recorded thirty assists. He also scored three goals and recorded three assists in four postseason games for the organization. Emme previously skated for the Chicago Mission 16U (AAA), Highland Park Falcons 14U (AA), and Team Illinois 13U (AAA) organizations. He is 5’11’, 160 lbs., and a lefthanded shot.
Chase Pirtle, 18, Forward, of Far Hills, New Jersey, was selected 223rd overall by the Storm in the 15th Round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. He skated in forty-seven games this season for Mount St. Charles Academy’s 18U (AAA) team. Pirtle scored twenty goals, and recorded twenty-four assists, for forty-four total points, in forty-seven games played. He scored twenty-six goals, and notched fifty-five assists, for eighty-one total points, in fifty-six games played during the 2021-2022 season for the New Jersey Rockets 16U (AAA) team. Pirtle made his USHL debut with the Youngstown Phantoms on September 24th, 2021, in the team’s 2-0 shutout loss to the Waterloo Black Hawks at the 2021 USHL Fall Classic. Pirtle previously skated for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U (AYHL), and the Delbarton School (Prep). He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Cornell University. Pirtle is 6’2, 183 lbs., and is a righthanded shot.
The former Captain of the Waterloo Black Hawks, Tyler Procious, was Tri-City’s next selection in the draft. Procious, 19, Defenseman, of Pittsford, New York, was drafted 238th overall in the 16th Round of Wednesday’s draft. He scored two goals and recorded five assists in seventeen games played for the Black Hawks this season. Procious previously skated for the Omaha Lancers, and Muskegon Lumberjacks. He has skated in more than one hundred league games, has scored twenty-four goals, and recorded twenty-nine assists. Procious made his USHL debut on December 7th, 2019, in the Lancers’ 2-1 overtime loss on home ice to the Sioux Falls Stampede. He netted his first career goal on January 9th, 2021, in Muskegon’s 4-2 road loss to the Green Bay Gamblers. Procious also previously skated for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U (AAA), and Rochester Monarchs 14U (AAA) organizations. He is 5’10’, 175 lbs., and is a righthanded shot.
The Storm’s 17th Round selection on Wednesday evening was defenseman Anthony Biakabutuka, 16, of Longueuil, Quebec. He was drafted 253rd overall in the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft by Tri-City. He scored two goals, and recorded five assists in twenty-eight games played this season for Salisbury School (Prep). Biakabutuka also netted seven goals, and recorded twenty-one assists for twenty-eight total points in twenty-eight games played this year for the Buffalo Regals 16U (AAA) organization. He skated in thirty-nine games during the 2021-2022 regular season for the Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains (QM18AAA). Biakabutuka scored one goal and notched five assists. He also skated in five postseason games for the team. Biakabutuka is 6’2’, 190 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Luke Posthumus was the final North American-born forward to be selected by the Storm in Wednesday’s draft. He was drafted 268th overall by Tri-City in the 18th Round of the draft. Posthumus, 18, of Ottawa, Ontario, netted nineteen goals, and recorded twenty-nine assists, for forty-eight total points in fifty-four games played this year for the Nepean Raiders (CCHL). He was named the CCHL’s Rookie of the Year for the 2022-2023 season. Posthumus scored thirty-eight goals, and recorded forty-three assists, for eighty-one total points in thirty-two games played during the 2021-2022 regular season for the Raiders. He also scored six goals, and notched eight assists in eight playoff games for the organization. Posthumus previously skated for the Ottawa Myers Automotive U15 (AAA) organization. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future at Northeastern University. He is 6’0’, 180 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
The penultimate defenseman selected by Tri-City during Wednesday’s draft was Luka Radivojevic. He was selected 283rd overall in the 19th Round of the Phase II Draft. Radivojevic, 16, of Edina, Minnesota, scored five goals, and recorded twenty-three assists for twenty-eight total points this season for Örebro HK (J18). He also scored one goal, and notched three assists in six postseason games with the organization. Radivojevic previously skated for the AIK U16, and HK Dukla Trencin U16 organizations. He is 5’10’, 150 lbs., and a righthanded shot.
The final forward selected by the Storm in the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft was Yegor Borikov. Borikov, 17, of Luksky, Belarus, scored eleven goals, and recorded twelve assists, in forty-seven games played this season for Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL). He scored twenty goals, and notched twenty-one assists, for forty-one total points in forty-six games played last season for Team Belarus U17 (Belarus Vysshaya). He is 6’1’, 181 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
Tri-City’s final selection in Wednesday’s second phase of the 2023 USHL Draft was Florida Panthers (NHL) Draft Pick Vladislav Lukashevich. Lukashevich, 19, Defenseman, of Yaroslavl, Russia, was drafted 120th overall in the 4th Round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers. Tri-City selected him 328th overall in the 22nd Round of the USHL Phase II Draft with the team’s final pick. He scored two goals, and recorded sixteen assists, for eighteen total points in forty-five games played this year for Loko Yaroslavl (MHL). Lukashevich also appeared in ten postseason games with the organization this season. He notched five assists in twenty-six games played for the team during the 2021-2022 regular season. He is 6’1’, 172 lbs., and is a lefthanded shot.
“We are really excited with the group of players were able to add to the Storm family today. We were able to address some immediate needs while also solidifying our future. Our staff is excited to meet the new players face to face in June, and begin building towards next season.”- President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen
“I want to thank our scouting staff and coaches, for all of their time, effort, and hours of work throughout the course of the season in preparation for these two days. They were unbelievably diligent and professional in the months leading up to these drafts. After the past two days, and the culmination of our picks and acquisitions, we feel confident that we have addressed some immediate needs for the club this season, while keeping an eye on the future. We look forward to seeing our new draft picks, our previously drafted affiliate players, and our returning players in Las Vegas at camp next month. We are looking forward to another competitive and successful season next year”- General Manager Jason Koehler
