LINCOLN – The Tri-City Storm dropped a midweek game to the Lincoln Stars Wednesday afternoon at the Ice Box in a 3-2 loss. Trevor Connelly and Alex Bump netted Tri-City’s goals in the loss. Tri-City will hit the ice again this weekend, in back-to-back home games at the Viaero Center against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Tickets for each game are still available, and may be purchased online at www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8144. Puck drop for each upcoming home game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
The lone goal of Wednesday’s 1st period was scored at 10:20 by Tyler Dunbar. Dunbar’s scoring play was his fourth of the season, and was assisted by German Yavash, and Jared Mangan. The Stars outshot the Storm 12-9 in the opening period, and the middle period began with Tri-City trailing by a goal.
Trevor Connelly netted his seventeenth goal of the year less than two minutes into the 2nd period to tie the game at 1-1. Connelly’s goal was scored at 1:56 of the period, and was assisted by Graham Gamache. Mason Marcellus scored his fifteenth goal of the year at 14:23 of the 2ndperiod to give Lincoln a 2-1 advantage in the matchup. The goal was assisted by Tanner Ludtke, and Antonio Fernandez. The final goal of the 2nd period was scored by Antonio Fernandez at 16:55. The scoring play was his tenth of the year, and was assisted by Mason Marcellus, and Klavs Veinbergs. Lincoln outshot Tri-City 15-11 during the 2nd period.
The final goal of the game was netted at 7:53 of the 3rd period by Alex Bump. The scoring play was Bump’s eleventh of the season, and was assisted by Jake Richard. The Storm lifted goaltender Cameron Korpi in the final moments of the game for an extra attacker, but the team was unable to net a game-tying goal. The Storm fell by a final score of 3-2, and the team was outshot by an overall margin of 35-32 during the contest.
Cameron Korpi recorded the loss in goal for the Storm after stopping 32 of Lincoln’s 35 shots on net. Cameron Whitehead picked up the win in net for the Stars after denying 30 of Tri-City’s 32 shots on goal. The Storm fell to 29-18-3-3 overall on the season, and is now four points back of the Stars for 3rd place in the USHL’s Western Conference standings. Tri-City’s “magic number” to clinch a spot in the 2023 edition of the Clark Cup Playoffs remains at two. The Storm can lock up a spot in the postseason with a win at the Viaero Center over the Sioux Falls Stampede in Friday’s matchup.
The Tri-City Storm will return home to the Viaero Center this weekend for back-to-back games against the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday, March 31st, and Saturday, April 1st. Friday’s game will feature a $5 Kids’ Friday presented by Big Apple Fun Center in Kearney. The season-long promotion features discounted Kids’ tickets for Friday home games. Kids are encouraged to visit the purple tent on the Viaero Center concourse during the game to collect their coupon for 50% off 1-hour of bowling (Restrictions Apply). Saturday’s game will serve as the Storm’s annual Youth Hockey Night, presented by the Tri-City Youth Ice Hockey Association. The Storm will wear specialty sweaters that will be auctioned off following the game. More information about the TCYIHA can be found at https://www.jrstormhockey.com/.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Friday, March 31st, in a home game against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. Skate to www.StormHockey.com for individual game tickets and more information regarding the Tri-City Storm organization.
