Storm acquires Zach Bade from Black Hawks

KEARNEY, Neb. (Press Release) - The Tri-City Storm has acquired forward Zach Bade, a 7th round pick in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft, and a 12th round pick in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft from the Waterloo Black Hawks in exchange for defenseman Jake Delaney, and a 4th round pick in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft. This transaction was announced following the conclusion of the Storm’s five-game exhibition schedule, and Bade is set to join the team for this week’s 2023 DICK’s Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic.

Zach Bade, 20, Forward, of Rosemount, Minnesota, joins the Storm for his final season of junior hockey after appearing in fifty-two games last year with the Waterloo Black Hawks. Bade netted nine goals and recorded nine assists for eighteen total points. He also skated in all three of Waterloo’s games in the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. He was selected 50th overall in the 4th round of the 2022 USHL Phase II Draft by the Black Hawks. Bade made his USHL debut for Waterloo on October 15th, 2022, in the Black Hawks’ 4-2 road loss to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He netted his first career USHL goal on October 30th, 2022, in Waterloo’s 5-1 home victory over the Des Moines Buccaneers. Bade scored twice to record his first career multi-goal game in the USHL on February 2nd, 2023, in Waterloo’s 7-3 road win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Bade finished the 2023-2024 preseason averaging one point per game in three total appearances. He scored fifteen goals and recorded fifteen assists for thirty total points in fifty-one games played for the Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL) during the 2021-2022 regular season. Bade also previously played for Rosemount High School (MN) from 2018-2021. He previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Western Michigan University.

Jake Delaney, 19, Defenseman, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, was selected 118th overall by the Storm in the 8th round of the 2023 USHL Phase II Draft. He skated in three games with the Storm during the 2023-2024 preseason. Delaney notched an assist for Tri-City in the team’s 4-2 victory over the Sioux Falls Stampede on September 8th, 2023. He skated in five games last season for the Janesville Jets (NAHL). Delaney scored one goal and recorded one assist for two total points. He also played in fifty games last season for the Chicago Fury U18 (AAA). Delaney scored twenty-one goals and notched twenty-five assists for forty-six total points. He also previously skated for the Midwest Knights 18U (AAA), and Chicago Bruins 15U (AA) organizations. Delaney previously announced a commitment to play collegiate hockey in the future for Miami (OH) University.

“Zach Bade is a veteran forward who will add speed, size, and skill to our forward group. Jake Delaney was impressive while here, but given our group on the back end, we felt this was a fair trade for both sides. President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Anthony Noreen

“First off, I’d like to say thank you to Waterloo for working with us on this trade despite being conference rivals. Regarding the addition of Zach Bade, we are excited to welcome him to our team and our lineup. We see this as an upgrade to our forward group while adding elements of size, skating, and offense. Zach is a power forward type who’s already played two seasons of junior hockey in both the NAHL and USHL. He should be a valuable “plug and play” player who already knows the rigors of junior hockey, the USHL, and our Western Conference. We wish the best for Jake Delaney in his new home as he’s a quality young defenseman with a bright future in junior and college hockey.”- General Manager Jason Koehler

Tri-City will battle the defending Clark Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms in the opening game of the regular season Wednesday night at the 2023 DICK’s Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic. The game will begin at 6:30pm CT, and will be played on FedEx Rink #1 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The Storm will battle Western Conference foe Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:30pm CT in the team’s second, and final, game at the event on Thursday.

The Storm will return home to the Viaero Center on Friday, September 29th following the official beginning of the sixty-two games regular season at the Fall Classic. Tri-City will host the Sioux City Musketeers for the organization’s Home Opener. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. The battle will feature a rematch of the Tri-City’s opening-round playoff series against Sioux City in the 2023 Clark Cup Playoffs. The Storm will again play host to the Musketeers at 6:05pm CT the following evening on Saturday, September 30th.

Season Tickets, and Single-Game Tickets are on sale now for the 24th season in Tri-City Storm history. The organization will play thirty home games at the Viaero Center throughout the 2023-2024 USHL regular season. Following opening weekend, promotional dates will include Military Appreciation Night, Teddy Bear Toss Night, Concrete Cares Night, a New Year’s Eve Game, Scouting with the Storm, Kool Aid Night, Puck’s N’ Paw’s Night, Youth Hockey Night, and Fan Appreciation Night. The complete promotional schedule for the 2023-2024 regular season can be found online at www.StormHockey.com.

Tickets to upcoming Storm games may be purchased by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office hours at 308-338-8144, or by skating to the team’s official website, www.StormHockey.com.