USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

5-Goal First Period Leads Stampede to 5th Straight Win at Home

Published on January 2, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD - A record setting first period that saw the Stampede score five goals would be just enough to hold off a late Tri-City rally as the Herd topped the Storm 6-4 in front of 6,007 fans at the PREMIER Center Friday night. Cooper Marody led the way with a hat trick and an assist, all in the first period, and Sioux Falls won for the fourth straight time and fifth straight time on home ice to improve to 15-12-3 and move into a third place tie with Tri-City. Sioux Falls tallied five goals in the first 11:29 of the first period, matching a franchise record for most goals in a period. Alec Marsh tallied three assists while Stefanos Lekkas earned the win in goal with 30 saves. Sioux Falls is now 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-5-2 on home ice.

In was a thrilling first period for the Stampede faithful who watched the Herd tie a franchise record by scoring five goals in the period. Cooper Marody led the way with a first period hat trick just 11:29 into the game. Kieffer Bellows got scoring started just 41 seconds in when Alec Marsh's wrap around shot clanked off the goal post, but Bellows was on the door step and backhanded the puck into the net to make it 1-0. The Herd made it 2-0 at 3:26 when Marsh sent a pass in the slot to Marody who knocked it down onto his stick and sent a bouncing puck past Storm goaltender Alec Dillon and sent Dillon to the bench early. The Herd extended their lead at 7:15 when Alec Marsh clanked a shot off the goal post, but Cooper Marody drove towards the net and was able to get his stick on the rebound and put it past Jared Rutledge to make it a 3-0 game.

Just over a minute later the Herd were at it again, this time Troy Loggins and Dakota Joshua worked together to get the puck to Logan O'Connor who wristed a shot past the glove side of Rutledge and it was 4-0 Sioux Falls. Cooper Marody completed an early first period hat trick at 11:29 when Logan O'Connor's shot was stopped by Rutledge, but the rebound was scooped up by Marody who slapped the puck past Rutledge and into the net to send all 6,007 fans onto their feet and give the Herd a 5-0 lead. The Storm would get on the board at 16:11 when Chris Wilkie blasted a shot from the left point through traffic and into the net for a power play goal and it was 5-1. Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 10-3 in the period.

The scoring slowed down in the second as Tri-City kept the Stampede offense in check and got a goal of their own at 19:23 when Joel Herbert scored to cut the lead to 5-3. Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 13-11 in the period.

Things got really interesting in the third as the Storm charged back into the game. Former Stampede forward Cody Milan made it a 5-3 game when his backhanded shot beat Stefanos Lekkas at 12:45. The Storm made everyone at the PREMIER Center a little nervous at the 14:21 mark when a blast from Bobby Nardella off a face-off found the back of the net and suddenly the Stampede lead was cut to just one goal at 5-4. Herd fans were finally able to relax with 1:24 remaining when Bellows tallied his second goal of the night, bringing the puck just over the center line and wristing a shot into the empty net to seal a 6-4 win and two-game sweep of the Storm.

Tri-City outshot the Herd 17-4 in the third period and 34-27 on the night while going 2-for-4 on the power play, Sioux Falls finished 0-for-3.

The Stampede will now enjoy a rare Saturday night off before returning home next Friday to host the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 7:05 PM at the PREMIER Center. It is social media night, presented by Be Well South Dakota. Fans will be encouraged to follow the Stampede on Facebook and Twitter @sfstampede for a chance to win prizes during the game. Tickets are available through the KELOLAND Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2015


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