Carson Pilgrim sits down to discuss his second full season in Tri-City and the upcoming USHL playoffs
Carson Pilgrim is leading the way for the Tri-City Storm as the United States Hockey League’s 2025-26 season hits the month of March. After last year’s rookie season that saw Pilgrim post 25 points in 55 games, the Storm forward has brought his game to a different level.
Through 42 games, Pilgrim has recorded 16 goals and 19 assists, good for the team lead in goals and points with 35. The Storm's forward's game has continued to grow due to a greater belief in himself.
“I think my games evolved in a lot of ways. I feel I’ve got more confidence and just read the ice a little better,” Pilgrim said during an interview on Tuesday afternoon. “Coming back this year as one of the older guys, I knew I had to lead the way, and I feel my confidence has only continued to grow from going on the ice in big situations, whether it’s power play, penalty kill or end of game.”
The Storm currently find themselves in third place in the USHL’s Western Conference, having posted a record of 25-21-3-2 through 51 games played. With 11 games to go, Pilgrim is focused on helping the Storm find the style of game they want to play prior to the beginning of the playoffs.
“I feel like we just have to get back to playing the way we know we can,” Pilgrim said. “ We have a tough schedule coming up, facing off against a lot of the top teams in the league. If we play the way Torchy [John Torchetti] wants us to play, being smart defensively, then I feel like we have a very good chance to get back into the win column and have that momentum going into playoffs.”
Currently in his first season coaching the Storm, head coach John Torchetti brings a wealth of experience to the Storm’s locker room. Torchetti has coached across various professional and junior leagues, being a head coach and an assistant, something that excited Pilgrim when the hiring was announced.
“It’s been awesome. He definitely knows what he’s doing,” Pilgrim said. “Coming into this year, we knew there was going to be some changes. No one knew Torchetti or how he coached, but we’ve all come to trust each other. He has an expectation of how we are supposed to play every night, and we try to do that for him because we know how much this means to him.”
A big factor for the Storm’s success this season has been the play of both goalies in Tri-City, Michal Pradel and Owen Nelson. As a team, the Storm have allowed the second fewest goals in the Western Conference, while Pradel leads the USHL in shutouts with four.
“It’s been great. Whenever we make a mistake, we know they are going to bail us out,” Pilgrim said. “I feel like we have two of the best goalies in the league, and it’s a great feeling going out there and playing in front of them because they give us a chance to win every night.”
Up next for the Storm is a back-to-back set at home with the first-place Sioux Falls Stampede. The matchup gives Pilgrim and the Storm a good chance to test themselves against the Western Conference’s top competition. The two teams split the previous meetings in Sioux Falls, with the Stampede winning 4-1 on Oct. 4, and the Storm claiming a 3-1 win on Oct. 26.
“It’s going to be tough. They are a top team in the league and are very solid all the way up and down their lineup. We’re 1-1 against them,” Pilgrim said. “We need to get back in the win column to hopefully secure home ice advantage in the playoffs, so we need to be on our ‘A’ game Friday and Saturday.”
The Storm have become a tight group throughout the 2025-26 season, one of the many factors that have helped contribute to this year’s success. The Storm remain only seven points back of matching last year’s total of 62.
“The guys in the locker room, we’re all really good friends,” Pilgrim said. “I feel that has made playing a lot healthier and easier. Any chance we get to hang out together, we take, and I think that has made everyone’s play even better.”
The Storm will take on the Stampede Friday night at the Viaero Center, kicking off a stretch of eight-straight home games. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. CST.