Preview: Storm Host Rival Lancers for Home Opener at Viaero Center
October 4, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
Kearney, NE. - The Tri-City Storm open the regular season home schedule tonight at the Viaero Center in Kearney against in state rival Omaha. Pregame festivities will honor last season's Anderson Cup Championship team and set the stage for one of the USHL's top rivalry matchups. Doors will open at 5pm, puck drop is schedule for 7:05pm.
Tri-City (0-1-1-0) is seeking its first win of the season in its opening home game tonight after dropping back to back game's at last week's Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, PA. In its season opening game, the Storm dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Waterloo Black Hawks. Joe Molenaar scored the team's only goal in the loss. One week ago, today, in the team's second game of the season, Tri-City was defeated by the Youngstown Phantoms by a final score of 5-2. In last Friday's loss, Tri-City got goals from Benji Eckerle and Colby Ambrosio. Last Thursday's game was the first season opening game the Storm had lost since the 2012-2013 season. The Storm have not lost three consecutive games to begin a season since the 2010-2011 season. Head Coach Anthony Noreen has not lost a home opener at the Viaero Center in his previous two seasons with the Storm. He has won five of six home openers as a Head Coach in the USHL (Youngstown 2010-2015). In the two previous home openers, Tri-City has outscored its opponents 6-1. Tonight's game is Tri-City's only contest of the weekend. The Storm will be back in action again on Thursday when it hosts the defending Clark Cup Champion Sioux Falls Stampede in a rematch of last season's Western Conference Final.
Omaha (1-1-0-0) played in two 4-1 games at last week's Fall Classic, winning its season opening game 4-1 against the Madison Capitols and dropping its second game of the year 4-1 to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Through two games played, goal scorers for the Lancers have included; Alex Campbell, Rhett Pitlick, Zach Plucinksi, Nolan Renwik, and Matthew Sutton. Like Tri-City, Omaha played both of its goalies at the Fall Classic. Akira Schmid made 23 saves on 24 shots and recorded the win in net in the Lancers season opening game. Kyle McClellan made 21 saves on 25 shots in last Friday's matchup against Cedar Rapids and dropped his first decision of the season. The Lancers will travel to the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA tomorrow night for a matchup against the Sioux City Musketeers. Next week Omaha will travel to Scheels Arena in Fargo, ND for a battle with the Fargo Force, before hosting the Lincoln Stars in its home opener at Ralston Arena on Saturday, October 12th.
Tonight's game is set to begin at 7:05pm CT, and will be streamed live on HockeyTV, and Storm Radio. To purchase tickets to Storm home games at the Viaero Center, visit www.StormHockey.com or call 308-338-8144.
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United States Hockey League Stories from October 4, 2019
- Kodsi Regained by Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- Lancers Spoil Storm Home Opener in OT, 4-3 - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Drop Shootout Decision to Omaha 4-3 - Tri-City Storm
- Hawks Shut Down Gamblers - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Chop Down Lumberjacks 4-2 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Muskegon Will Look For More Offense And Its First Win Of The Season At Youngstown Saturday - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Pregame Primer: Saints Host Capitols for Home Opener - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Preview: Storm Host Rival Lancers for Home Opener at Viaero Center - Tri-City Storm
- Force Names Pavel Team Captain - Fargo Force
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