Walleye forward Ben Storm retires from pro hockey

After two seasons as a professional hockey player, Toledo Walleye forward Ben Storm has announced he’s retiring.  

“When the season finished I thought about the commitment is takes to be a professional hockey player and how you’re away from family and friends,” says Storm. “I decided it’s time for me to move on.”

Storm found his niche on special teams with the Walleye, specifically the penalty kill unit, as he scored 5 goals with 8 assists and 103 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games with the Walleye during the 2018-19 season. He also scored 2 goals with 7 assists and 9 penalty minutes in 24 playoff games as the Walleye won the Western Conference championship and reached the Kelly Cup Finals.

“I had a blast in Toledo. Dan Watson is a great coach and the fan support is amazing,” says Storm. “My favorite memory in Toledo will be the goal I scored against Tulsa in the playoffs and how the Huntington Center erupted. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”   

In his first season as a pro, Storm was part of the 2017-18 Colorado Eagles squad which captured the ECHL Kelly Cup.

Storm says he’ll now focus on pursuing a career in mechanical engineering, to make use of the degree he earned at St. Cloud State University.