KEARNEY, NE (KELO.com) — The Tri-City Storm completed a two-game weekend sweep of the Sioux Falls Stampede Saturday at the Viaero Center in a 7-1 victory. Tri-City extended its season-high winning streak to six games with the result. The Storm has notched points in the standings in seven consecutive games. August Falloon, Samo Meritähti, Jake Richard, Trevor Connelly, Artemi Nizameyev, Graham Gamache, and Evan Werner each notched a goal during Saturday’s home victory for the Storm. Connelly’s scoring play gave him a goal in seven consecutive games, and tied an organizational record. The Storm will return to action in back-to-back road games against the Des Moines Buccaneers next weekend.
August Falloon opened the scoring in Saturday’s game with his twelfth goal of the year just over five minutes into the matchup. The goal was assisted by Kieran Cebrian and Evan Werner. Clint Levens tied the game for Sioux Falls at 9:34 of the 1st period. The goal was his sixth of the season, and was assisted by Connor Pelc and Adam Zlinka. Samo Meritähti scored his third goal of the year for the Storm at 10:04 of the opening period to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead in the matchup. Artemi Nizameyev and Jacob Jeannette each recorded an assist on the scoring play. Jake Richard scored the Storm’s final goal of the 1st period with just over two minutes remaining. The goal was Richard’s team-leading twenty-fourth of the season, and was assisted by Graham Gamache. Tri-City outshot Sioux Falls 9-5 in the 1st period, and carried a 3-1 lead into Saturday’s 2nd period.
Trevor Connelly netted his fifteenth goal of the season only seventeen seconds into the 2nd period to give Tri-City a three-goal lead in the matchup. Connelly’s goal was scored on the powerplay, and was assisted by Dane Dowiak. Artemi Nizameyev scored a shorthanded, breakaway, goal at 9:23 of the middle period to increase the Storm’s lead to four goals. The scoring play was the final goal allowed during the matchup by Stampede netminder Xavier Medina, who was replaced in goal by Jackson Irving. Medina stopped 12 of the Storm’s 17 shots on goal in 29:32 of playing time. Graham Gamache scored his fourteenth goal of the year at 13:36 of the 2nd period to give Tri-City a 6-1 lead in the matchup. Tanner Adams recorded an assist on the scoring play. The final goal of the 2nd period was notched by Evan Werner on the powerplay. The goal was scored at 15:53 of the period, and was assisted by Daimon Gardner and Graham Gamache. Tri-City outshot Sioux Falls 12-7 in the 2nd period, and the 3rd period began with the Storm leading 7-1.
Each team failed to score a goal during the 3rd period, and Tri-City skated away with a six-goal victory Saturday night at the Viaero Center. The Storm improved to 24-16-2-3 overall on the season in the win. Tri-City clinched a victory in its head-to-head series against Sioux Falls for the 2022-2023 regular season with the result. The Storm has won each of the first five games contested in the series. Tri-City improved to 11-4-1-2 in games played in Kearney this season.
Patriks Berzinš backstopped the Storm to victory for the sixth time this season in Saturday’s home victory. Berzinš stopped 18 of Sioux Falls’ 19 shots on net during the matchup. Xavier Medina dropped the game in goal for the Stampede after making 12 saves on 17 shots during the first half of the matchup. Jackson Irving finished the game in net for Sioux Falls, and made 11 saves on 12 shots.
Graham Gamache was named the 1st Star of Saturday’s game, with teammates Artemi Nizameyev, and Evan Werner recording 2nd and 3rd Star honors, respectively. 2,059 fans attended Saturday’s game at the Viaero Center.
