USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Weekly

Published on April 7, 2008 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


The defending Clark Cup Champion Sioux Falls Stampede will face the Lincoln Stars in the first round of the USHL Playoffs, starting this Wednesday night at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Stampede are the #2 seed in the West Division while Lincoln is the #3 seed. All three rounds of the playoffs are best-of-five series.

With the Stampede being the higher seed, they will have home ice advantage against the Stars, meaning they will host games 1 and 2 and if necessary, game 5. Game 1 will be this Wednesday, April 9, Game 2 Friday, April 11 and Game 5 on Sunday, April 20th.

Tickets are now on sale for Games 1 and 2 at the Sioux Falls Arena Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations.

The first 2,000 fans to Wednesday's game will receive a free pair of ThunderStix, courtesy of Sioux Empire Federal Credit Union and a Playoff Cheer Towel, complements of Waterbury Heating and Cooling and Coleman. The first 2,000 fans through the doors on Friday will receive playoff towels as well.

The Stampede finished the regular season with a 5-2-0 mark against the Stars, winning the last five games. The Stampede ended the regular season in second place with a 35-19-6 record and 76 points while Lincoln was 31-22-7 and 69 points.

Below is the Stampede's 1st Round Schedule:

Game 1: Wednesday, April 9th @ SF 7:05 PM

Game 2: Friday, April 11th @ SF 7:05 PM

Game 3: Saturday, April 12th @ LIN 7:05 PM

*Game 4: Friday, April 18th @ LIN 7:05 PM

*Game 5: Sunday, April 20th @ SF TBA

*if necessary

PLAYOFF PREVIEW VS LINCOLN-

The regular season is over and the Stampede are ready to defend their Clark Cup Championship! The fun starts Wednesday night at the Sioux Falls Arena when the Stampede host Game 1 against the Lincoln Stars at 7:05 PM.

For a complete preview of the Herd's matchup against the Stars in the first round, click here

B2 NETWORKS VIEWING PARTY

THIS SATURDAY-

This Saturday is the first playoff B2 Networks Viewing Party at Buffalo Wild Wings (located adjacent to the Sioux Falls Arena)! Watch the Stampede face the Stars in Game 3 of their best-of-five series from the Ice Box in Lincoln on all the TV Big Screens starting at 7 PM. All Stampede road playoff games can be seen "live" from Buffalo Wild Wings this post-season! In addition, fans can enjoy food specials and a chance to win Stampede prizes! Please arrive early as seating is limited and no reservations will be taken.

MISS CONDUCT INDUCTED INTO

STAMPEDE "FAN OF FAME"-

Sarah Carlson (Miss Conduct) became the 8th person to be inducted into the Stampede's "Fan of Fame" last Wednesday night during the Herd's final regular season home game on April 2nd.

Miss Conduct has been seen at Stampede games since the Herd's first season, tossing tee-shirts into the crowd as well as being part of the intermission and in-game entertainment.

Sarah will be leaving Sioux Falls for a new job in Deadwood, SD and performed for the last time on April 2nd. The Stampede honored her at the game with a personalized team jersey, photo plaque and gifts. The Stampede have also decided to retire "Miss Conduct" for all future games in her honor.

The Stampede "Fan of Fame Award" was created back on November 3, 2000 when Kerry Austin attended a Stampede home game and heroically revived a fellow fan from near death from his seating area at the Sioux Falls Arena. Mr. Austin's courageous act inspired the Stampede to create the "Fan of Fame Award" in his honor.

CONNOLLY ENDS REGULAR SEASON AS USHL SCORING CHAMPION

Stampede forward Jack Connolly finished the regular season tied with John Kemp of Indiana as the league's scoring champion with 72 points.

Connolly recorded 72 points on 26 goals and 46 assists in 58 games played. The Duluth, MN native led the Stampede in scoring and was second in assists (46) and plus/minus (+18).

Connolly is a finalist for the USHL Player-of-the-Year, Rookie-of-the-Year and Forward-of-the-Year. The winner's will be announced on Wednesday.

He has already committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for next season.

STAMPEDE SEASON WRAP UP OF

DID YOU KNOW???

With their 2-0 win at Tri-City on Saturday, the Stampede surpassed last year's win total of 34 and went 24-9-4 after the winter break.

The Stampede posted a winning record against every team in the league but Chicago and Waterloo.

The Herd went 24-8-4 against the West Division this season.

The Stampede were 29-9-4 when scoring the first goal of the game this season and 28-0-1 when leading after two periods.

Sioux Falls finished with the second best road record in the league at 18-8-4.

Eric Hartzell set a Stampede franchise record with 5 shutouts this season. After giving up 21 goals in his first five games, Hartzell went 17-6-1 with a 2.57 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

The Stampede had one of the best one-two punches in goal as Hartzell finished the regular season with a 19-9-2 record, a 2.75 GAA and a .913 save percentage. Max Strang went 16-10-4 with a 2.73 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

Eric Springer finished the season as the Stampede's top defensive scorer with 31 points (8g, 23a) in 59 games.

Jake Hansen finished the season third in the league in goals scored with 31.

Jack Connolly recorded five goals in his last five games of the regular season.

Check out the Sioux Falls Stampede Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2008


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