Sioux Falls, S.D. — After spending most of October at home, the Stampede returns to road action with a series in Fargo, N.D.
The Stampede remain atop the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Fargo Force. Last weekend, the Herd split their home series. On Saturday night, during Military Appreciation Night, Sioux Falls defeated the 7-3-0-1 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-2. The RoughRiders struck first, taking the lead 6:43 into the opening period and holding it through the first intermission. The Herd tied it up 3:13 into the second with a power-play snipe from
Thomas Zocco. Sioux Falls added to their lead with a backdoor goal from
Juho Keinanen just 4:37 into the third period.
Ryder Betzold extended the lead at 14:41, while the RoughRiders added a late tally before
Joey Macrina sealed the game with an empty-net goal.
Sunday brought a different result for Sioux Falls, as the Herd fell 3-1 to the Storm despite outshooting them 46-21. The Storm opened the scoring early in the first period and slowed the Herd's momentum. The Stampede killed off a penalty midway through the game but couldn't find the back of the net. Tri-City extended its lead to 2-0 just 11 seconds into the third period. Sioux Falls finally broke through at 11:44 when
Joe McGraw tipped in a J.J. Monteiro shot. An empty-net goal from the Storm ended the game and snapped the Stampede's five-game win streak. Sioux Falls now sits at 8-3-1-0 on the season.
The Fargo Force currently trail the Stampede by two points in the Western Conference standings, with two games in hand. Last weekend, the Force split their series in Omaha, Neb., against the Lancers. Fargo earned a 4-1 victory on Saturday night, netting goals in both the first and second periods before adding two more in the first half of the third. The Lancers got on the board at 17:43 with a goal from Charlie Vig, but the Force held on for the win. On Sunday, Omaha responded with a 4-0 shutout. Fargo now holds a 7-2-0-1 record.
The Herd and Force have yet to face off this season. The teams last met in the 2024–25 regular-season finale home-and-home series. Fargo took the home win on Friday, April 11, while Sioux Falls answered with a 5-2 victory on Saturday, April 12.
Following this weekend's series, the Stampede will head to Youngstown, Ohio. The Herd will not return to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center until November 26 for the first annual Corgi Race.
