KEARNEY, N.E. — No season is perfect, and champions are built on adversity. It's a good lesson to learn early in the season, and hopefully one the Sioux Falls Stampede pick up quickly after a 5-2 loss to the Tri-City Storm in the third game of the year.
Things got off to a slow start in the first period, with the first goal coming off the stick of Tri-City's Samuel Courtemanche at 10:17 into the game, his first in the USHL. It wouldn't be until 18:56 of the first period that Alexandr Sokolov would pick up his first of the night to close out the period with a 2-0 lead for the Storm.
The second period would have a similar feeling, with Courtemanche picking up his second of the game at the 11:40 mark. As for special teams, the Stampede would see the only three power-play opportunities of the second period, but would be unable to convert on any of them.
Period three started with a bang as Stampede forward Matthew Portz would pick up a five-minute major and a game misconduct just 2:13 into the period to end his night. Sokolov would pick up his second of the night to give the Storm a 4-0 lead 11:11 into the final frame. It would be veteran forward Joey Macrina to get the Stampede on the board 14 seconds later with a falling shot from the left circle. 55 seconds later, the Herd would get their second of the night thanks to Cooper Soller, fresh off his time at training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With just over a minute left in regulation, Wade Weil would be called for a boarding major and game misconduct, with Gavin Clark dropping the gloves with Courtemanche with 15 seconds remaining. Both Clark and Courtemanche received fighting majors and game misconducts.
In net, Edmonton Oilers prospect Ryan Cameron suffered his first loss of the season, stopping 18 of 22 Tri-City shots. Across the ice, Quinn Beumer picked up his first win of the young season, with 34 saves on 36 shots.
The Sioux Falls Stampede are back in action tomorrow night, with a rematch against the Tri-City Storm back at the Viaero Center, with puck drop scheduled at 6:05 PM CT.
