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USHL Sioux Falls Stampede

Sellout Crowd of over 10,000 Watches Herd Thump Musketeers 4-1

February 27, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release


Sioux Falls, SD- On a night that belonged to Lily, the champion of the Sioux Nation Pet Clinic Wiener Dog Races, the Sioux Falls Stampede posted an impressive 4-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers before a sellout crowd of 10,678 Saturday at the PREMIER Center. With the game tied 1-1 entering the third, the biggest crowd of the season watched the Herd score three times in the final period en route to the victory.

Jack Suter, Joe Rutkowski, Csanad Erdely and Parker Tuomie all scored for the Herd who improved to 22-21-3 on the season and into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with Waterloo. Stefanos Lekkas was brilliant once again between the pipes, stopping 26 shots to help the Herd improve to 17-9-1 on home ice this season. The Stampede are 5-2-0 this season against their I-29 rivals and 4-0-0 on home ice.

With fans in their seats early for the game, the Herd knew they needed to get off to a good start and they would do just that 3:56 into the contest when Jack Suter took a pass from Lean Bergman and wristed a shot past Sioux City netminder Cam Gornet to give the Herd a 1-0 lead. Sioux Falls outplayed the Musketeers for the rest of the period, outshooting them 18-7, but still led by just a goal at the end of the period.

Sioux Falls would begin period two on a 5-on-3 power play, but weren't able to convert and that shifted the momentum to Sioux City who outshot the Herd 12-9 in the period, but neither team would find the back of the net until the 14:53 mark when C.J. Dodero sent a pass into the left circle for Mitchell Fossier who skated in and wristed a shot perfectly into the upper right hand corner of the net to tie the game 1-1.

During the second intermission the battle was between Sandy and Lily who were battling it out for the championship of the 9th annual Sioux Nation Pet Clinic Wiener Dog Races. In a very tight race that came down the final stretch, it was Lily who edged out Sandy before all 10,678 fans who were standing to make sure they didn't miss a second of the exciting finish.

Perhaps the Stampede players were watching on the TV screen in the locker room or peeking through the doors as it seemed to inspire their third period play. The Stampede regained the lead just 1:13 into the third period when Parker Tuomie's wraparound attempt was stopped, but the puck bounced into the crease and Joe Rutkowski quickly skated in and knocked home the rebound to give the Herd a 2-1 edge. From there the Stampede dominated play and added to their lead at 8:55 when Chaz Switzer and Matt Riggleman worked together to find Csanad Erdely in the left circle and Erdely wristed a shot perfectly over the glove of Gornet to send the sellout crowd into a frenzy and give the Herd a 3-1 lead at 8:55. The Stampede would seal the game for good at 18:38 when Parker Tuomie tallied an empty net goal and the Stampede sent all fans home happy with a smile in their 4-1 victory.

Sioux Falls outshot Sioux City 47-27 on the night and finished 0-for-3 on the power play while the Musketeers were also 0-for-3.

The Stampede return to action on Wednesday when they host the Des Moines Buccaneers at 7:05 PM. It is also Furniture Mart Family Night where families can get 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and 1 large popcorn for just $49. These packages are available only through the Stampede office inside the Birdcage or by calling 336-6060.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2016


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