SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Sioux Falls Stampede return to the road this weekend for two 7:05 p.m. games in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Stampede are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games after going 3-2-1-0 during their six-game homestand. Sioux Falls has proven to be a stronger road team this season, posting a 12-5-0 record in 17 road games compared to an 11-7-2 record in 20 home games. The team will now spend the next two weekends on the road and look to secure a pair of weekend sweeps.

The Herd closed out their three-in-three weekend with a solid performance against the Lincoln Stars on Sunday after an off night Saturday against Sioux City. Joey Macrina opened the scoring for the Stampede at 3:08 after a defensive-zone takeaway that he passed ahead to Cade Strom. Strom sent the puck back to Macrina, who stuffed it in backdoor for his 13th goal of the season. With 4:22 left in the period, Matthew Grimes added to the Stampede's lead with a one-timer from the left faceoff dot.
Sioux Falls continued to apply pressure with a goal just 1:17 into the second period. Forward Brock Schultz recorded his 18th of the season thanks to a backhand pass from defenseman Anthony Bongo that Schultz tucked under the crossbar. Shortly after, Thomas Holtby dropped the gloves with Lincoln's Brady Sloper, energizing the PREMIER Center crowd. After the Stampede killed off a minor penalty on the same play, Thomas Zocco netted his 11th goal of the season following an unselfish pass from JJ Monteiro that left Zocco with an open net.

Lincoln scored their lone goal of the game before the end of the period, but another Thomas Zocco goal sealed the Stampede win. With 1:53 remaining, Zocco fired a shot from the high slot that slid through the five-hole of the Lincoln goaltender. The win restored the Stampede's four-point lead atop the Western Conference.

The Stampede's inconsistent special teams play was evident this weekend, as they went one-for-16 on the power play and allowed five power-play goals on 12 penalty kills. Prior to the series, Sioux Falls ranked third in the USHL on the power play at 25.5% and eighth on the penalty kill at 79.1%. Following the weekend, the power play dropped to fifth at 23.7%, while the penalty kill fell to 12th at 77.2%. Sioux Falls will continue refining its special teams play to address these issues.

While the Herd receives contributions throughout the lineup, there are a few key players worth watching. Leading the way is team points leader Thomas Zocco, who recorded five points in two games this weekend to surpass the 40-point mark. Zocco currently ranks fourth in the USHL with 44 points and third in assists with 32. He is one of four Stampede players averaging over a point per game at 1.22 points per game. Zocco has also been a key contributor on the power play, tallying 19 power-play points, which ranks fifth in the USHL. The Merrimack College commit continues to earn his place near the top of the Stampede lineup.

Fans should also keep an eye on the Stampede's two rookies. Rookie forward Cooper Soller leads all USHL rookies in scoring with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists). The Western Michigan University commit was recently ranked 183rd in the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings. Rookie defenseman Jake Prunty has also made a strong impact, ranking second among rookies with 24 points (1 goal, 23 assists) in just 22 games. He is tied for fourth among all USHL defensemen in scoring. Both rookies have been key contributors to the Herd's offensive success.

This weekend, the Stampede face the Dubuque Fighting Saints, who sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 24-10-2 record. They are seven points behind the top spot in the USHL and four points behind the Green Bay Gamblers in second place.
The Saints boast a 14-2-1-0 record on home ice. Their first home loss came on November 21 in an overtime defeat to the Youngstown Phantoms. Their other two losses were against the Green Bay Gamblers in December, with one of those games decided by a single goal.

Dubuque is an offensive powerhouse, leading the USHL with 167 goals scored. The Fighting Saints average 4.64 goals per game and are 19-5-1 when scoring first and 19-1-1-0 when leading after two periods.
The Saints have recorded three double-digit goal games this season, beginning on October 11, 2025, when they scored 11 goals. They followed that with two 10-goal performances on November 28 and January 10. Dubuque's points leader, Michael Barron, is tied for fifth in the USHL with 43 points.

Dubuque is also a major threat on the power play, leading the USHL with a 29.9% conversion rate. The Stampede will need to stay disciplined to limit the Fighting Saints' special teams success.

As the season reaches its midpoint, it remains crucial for the Stampede to continue winning games to maintain their position near the top of the Western Conference.

The Herd return to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on February 5, when they host the Green Bay Gamblers. Sioux Falls will host the Gamblers on February 5 and 7 for their final Eastern Conference matchup.

THE DOGS RETURN in less than a month! The 19th Annual Wiener Dog Night is set for February 14. There's nothing quite like puppy love, so there's no better way to spend Valentine's Day than at Wiener Dog Night. Learn more about the festivities here.