Big forward Ben Storm, who played for the Toledo Walleye last season, has announced his retirement.
The 6-foot-7 and 230-pound left winger finished with the second most penalty minutes on the team (103) last season.
Storm, a native of Laurium, Mich., in the Upper Peninsula, played in 54 games during the regular season for Toledo. He had 13 points with five goals and eight assists. Storm then played in all 24 ECHL playoff games for the Walleye, who reached the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time. Storm produced nine points with two goals and seven assists in the postseason.
Storm, 25, was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round of the 2013 NHL draft. He said there were a few factors that went into his decision to retire.
“One of the biggest was just being away from family and friends for such a big portion of the year,” Storm said. “I've been playing hockey since I was 5 years old and I just felt it was the right time to try something new and something that challenges me in a different way.”
🚨 BREAKING: Ben Storm has announced his retirement from professional hockey. 🚨
— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) August 12, 2019
Storm: "The Toledo Walleye are a top-notch organization with amazing fan support. The memories I made during the playoff run are incredible that’ll last for the rest of my life.” pic.twitter.com/Jm41Q9p84L
Storm played four years at St. Cloud State University. In 121 games, he produced four goals, 13 assists, and 72 penalty minutes and helped lead the Huskies to three NCAA tournament berths.
Storm has a degree in mechanical engineering from St. Cloud State.
“I will be looking to use that in my future endeavors,” he said.
Storm made his pro debut with Colorado's American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio at the end of the 2016-17 season. He then played his first pro season in 2017-18 in the ECHL with the Colorado Eagles, who he helped lead to a Kelly Cup title. In 69 regular-season games as a rookie with the Eagles, Storm tallied eight goals with 19 assists.
“The Toledo Walleye are a top-notch organization with amazing fan support,” Storm wrote on Twitter. “The memories I made during the playoff run are incredible, that’ll last for the rest of my life.”
Tickets on sale: The Walleye organization announced that it will begin selling tickets to opening weekend Wednesday.
The team opens the home portion of its 2019-20 schedule on Saturday, Nov. 2 against Florida and Sunday, Nov. 3 against Fort Wayne.
Opening weekend packages will be sold beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Fifth Third Field box office, online, or by phone. Packages begin at $35 and include tickets for both nights.
The organization also announced it is offering a special ticket package for games against the rival Fort Wayne Komets. The plan includes tickets to all six home games against Fort Wayne, plus tickets to three other games — opening night, a Friday, Dec. 27 game against Wheeling, and the last regular-season game (Sunday, April 5 vs Indy). The package is $204.
Visit ToledoWalleye.com for more information.
First Published August 12, 2019, 5:12 p.m.
