Sioux Falls, S.D. — After a four-game preseason slate, the Sioux Falls Stampede are set to begin their regular-season schedule at the USHL Fall Classic this Thursday. To open, the Stampede will take on the Chicago Steel and Green Bay Gamblers on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
The Stampede enter the 2025–26 season following a record-breaking 40-win campaign under first-year Head Coach Ryan Cruthers, which earned them a first-round bye in the Clark Cup Playoffs. That historic season began with a two-game sweep at the Fall Classic. With 12 returning players, the Stampede aim to replicate that success this week.
On Thursday at 3:30 p.m., the Herd will face off against the Chicago Steel, who finished last season with a 20-36-5-1 record. Ending the year with 46 points, the Steel failed to qualify for the Clark Cup Playoffs and placed eighth in the Eastern Conference. Looking to improve in their final season at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, IL, the Steel struggled through preseason play, finishing with a 1-3 record.
Last season, the Stampede swept the Steel in a two-game series at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. After Thursday's game, the Stampede and Steel will meet again in late November for a two-game series in Geneva.
Following their matchup with the Steel, the Stampede will take on the Green Bay Gamblers at the same time on Friday afternoon. Last season, the Gamblers secured the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 27-31-2-2 record. Their 3-1 preseason record suggests improvement heading into the new campaign.
The Gamblers and Herd split their two-game series last season, with Green Bay winning the opener before Sioux Falls bounced back with a commanding 9-2 victory. After this week, the two teams will face each other again in early February at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Both games this week will be streamed live on FloHockey with a paid subscription. The broadcasts will not be available on KELO Radio.
Following the Fall Classic, the Stampede will visit the Lincoln Stars at the Ice Box on Friday, September 26, before hosting their 2025 Home Opener on October 4. Tickets for the Home Opener are available now.
