CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – The Sioux Falls Stampede jumped out to a great start Thursday afternoon against the Muskegon Lumberjacks, kicking off the Fall Classic with an early two-goal lead. The Jacks would quickly storm back, though, and the Herd ultimately fell 7-4 to start the season with a loss. Maxim Strbak tallied his first goal as a member of the Stampede, as well as an assist. Maddox Fleming and Will McDonough also put up a goal and an assist each, while netminders Jackson Irving and Aidan Spooner split time between the pipes.

Strback put the Stampede on the board just three and a half minutes into the first period with a long shot from the blue line. The assist was credited to Michael LaStarza. The Herd would score again less than five minutes later when McDonough went in unassisted, taking a quick shot through the slot that found the back of the net. Muskegon would get things rolling at 11:05 in the period and would go on to score a total of five unanswered goals in the first twenty minutes of play. The Stampede were outshot by the Lumberjacks 9-4 in the period.

Irving took over for Spooner between the pipes at the start of the second period. Just 2:01 into the period, Fleming scooped up a blocked shot by Strbak, sniping it from the left circle to bring the Stampede within two. Muskegon would tally their second power play goal of the night with 2:15 remaining in the second period, giving them a 6-3 lead. Sioux Falls outshot Muskegon 13-6 in the period.

Sam Harris sparked some life back into the Herd just 2:01 into the final frame, taking a pass from Fleming and rushing it to the net to bring the Stampede within two once more. Sioux Falls was unable to capitalize on a few late power plays, including a four-minute minor, and the Jacks managed to put another one in the net with under three minutes remaining to give Muskegon a three-goal lead once more. Despite pulling their goaltender for the extra attacker, Sioux Falls was not able to battle back.

The Stampede outshot the Lumberjacks 9-8 in the third and 26-23 in the game. Sioux Falls went 1-for-3 on the man advantage while Muskegon went 2-for-5.

The Stampede continue their participation in the Fall Classic tomorrow afternoon when they face off against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 2 PM in Cranberry Township. The game will not be available on KELO Radio, but it will be streaming on FloHockey.