USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Stampede Close out Season with Shootout Loss to Tri-City

Published on April 14, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


A familiar trend played itself out for the Sioux Falls Stampede one final time this season, as they fell to the Tri-City Storm 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at the Arena. Justin Selman and Austyn Young each scored for the Stampede (17-36-7), and goaltender Charlie Lindgren stopped 25 of 27 Storm shots. Michael Vecchione had the clinching goal in the shootout for Tri-City (26-33-1), while Grant Opperman and Heikki Liedes scored in regulation. Goaltender Christian Frey put aside 43 of 45 shots for the Storm. Sioux Falls ended the season 2-4-2 against their conference rivals. Tri-City earned the #6 seed in the West and will begin the playoffs Monday in Waterloo in a first round best-of-three series.

"Our kids worked hard," said head coach Kevin Hartzell, "but we just don't quite have the poise of an older bunch of kids who score goals and bury pucks."

The Stampede dominated the opening period, putting a whopping 17 shots on Wilcox. A Brian Ward slashing penalty gave Sioux Falls their first prime chance to strike first blood, but they wouldn't be able to pounce despite several quality shots on goal. The Herd would remain unrelenting and finally got the first goal of the game with 3:02 left when Justin Selman took a beautiful Eric Brenk pass through the slot and snuck a shot past Frey, for his 11th score of the season. Sioux Falls went on the man advantage again less than 30 seconds later, but were unable to score and the teams headed off the ice with the Herd leading 1-0. Lindgren pushed aside all four shots he faced in the period, and the Stampede were 0 for 2 on the power play.

Tri-City didn't wait long to give the Herd another power play, as Brian Ward was sent off for high-sticking only 42 seconds into the second period. Once again Sioux Falls would squander the man advantage, and the Storm would go on their first power play after a Mark Solyakin tripping call. Tri-City started to match the Stampede's intensity midway through the period and finally tied the game up with 23 seconds left in the period when Grant Opperman wristed a shot past Lindgren from the right side. A huge skirmish erupted at the conclusion of the period, resulting in the Stampede getting another powerplay for the start of the final period in addition to a man advantage they were already enjoying, giving them a 5-on-3 advantage to start the third. Lindgren prevented 14 of 15 Tri-City attempts in the period.

Sioux Falls retook the lead quickly in the third period at 1:46 thanks to a sharp Austyn Young power play goal inside the left circle, his 11th tally of the year. Things looked like they were heading to a season-ending victory for the Herd until the 18:06 mark, when Heikki Liedes poked the puck through Lindgren with Frey on the bench for an extra attacker.

"We get nervous," said coach Hartzell. "We started thinking 'maybe we're going to screw this thing up' and when you feel that way often you do."

The goal tied the game at two and forced overtime where neither team would be able to score, putting the Herd in their 11th shootout of the season. Tri-City's Michael Vecchione scored the game-winner in the second round, giving the Storm the 3-2 shootout victory. The Herd were stopped on all three of their shootout attempts.

Sioux Falls ended the evening 1 for 5 on the power play, while Tri-City was scoreless in two opportunities.

"It sums up our season a little bit," said goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who will be counted on as a veteran next season. "We'll get back to working and we'll be ready for next year."

Though many Stampede players will return next year for a second season, the Stampede will have the top pick in the USHL Draft in mid-May.

"For the first time in my career, we have a really high draft pick," said coach Hartzell, adding, "You can be rest assured whoever we draft first is going to be somebody who can put the biscuit in the basket."

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2012


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