KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm posted a 7-3 victory over the league-leading Fargo Force Friday night at the Viaero Center. Six different players netted goals for Tri-City in the win. Graham Gamache (2), Cale Ashcroft, Kieran Cebrian, Evan Werner, Alex Bump, and Jacob Jeannette netted goals for Tri-City in the matchup. The Storm scored a season-high four powerplay goals in the victory. Tri-City will host Fargo tomorrow night for the organization’s annual Puck’s N’ Paw’s Night presented by PetSmart. Fans are encouraged to bring their dog to the game, and help the Storm raise money to benefit the Kearney Arena Animal Shelter. Dog tickets are available at the Viaero Center Box Office. Puck drop for tomorrow’s rematch between the Storm and the Force is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
Friday’s matchup produced ten total goals between the two Western Conference teams, but neither was able to score during the 1st period. Tri-City outshot Fargo 13-11 in the opening period, and the 2nd period began with the Storm and the Forced locked in a scoreless tie.
Cale Ashcroft scored a powerplay goal less than thirty seconds into the 2nd period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead in the matchup. The goal was Ashcroft’s seventh of the season, and was netted twenty-three seconds into the period. Daimon Gardner and Evan Werner each notched an assist on the scoring play. Verner Miettinen scored his fourteenth goal of the season at 12:27 of the 2nd period to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. The goal was assisted by Owen Mehlenbacher, and Brasen Boser. Kieran Cebrian netted his fourteenth goal of the year less than a minute later to give the Storm a 2-1 advantage in the matchup. The goal was scored at 13:05 of the 2nd period, and was assisted by Seth Constance and Alex Bump. Evan Werner scored his sixteenth goal of the season at 16:21 of the 2nd period to give the Storm a two-goal lead. Werner’s goal was scored on the powerplay, and was assisted by Tanner Adams, and Daimon Gardner. Tri-City scored twice in the final three minutes of the 2nd period to take a four-goal lead in the matchup. Alex Bump netted an even-strength goal at 17:03 of the middle period to give the Storm a 4-1 advantage in the game. Bump’s goal was assisted by Kieran Cebrian and Jake Richard. Graham Gamache scored his first goal of the matchup, and eighteenth goal of the year at 17:49 of the period to give Tri-City a four-goal lead. The Storm outshot the Force 15-6 in the middle period, and carried a 5-1 lead into Friday’s 3rd period.
The final period’s first goal was netted by Graham Gamache at 9:10 of the period. Gamache’s goal was his second of the game, and eighteenth of the season. The goal was scored on the powerplay, and was assisted by Cale Ashcroft, and Evan Werner. The Force responded with back-to-back powerplay goals to cut into the Storm’s lead. Bret Link scored his twenty-second goal of the season at 10:42 of the 3rd period to bring the score to 6-2. Link’s goal was assisted by Kyle Smolen, and Verner Miettinen. Cole Knuble scored his team-leading twenty-seventh goal of the season at 12:29 of the period. The goal was assisted by Owen Mehlenbacher, and Mac Swanson. The final goal of Friday’s game was netted by Jacob Jeannette into an empty net. The goal was scored on the powerplay at 19:15 of the period. The scoring play was his fifth of the season. The Storm was outshot 11-7 in the final period, but outshot the Force by an overall margin of 35-28. Tri-City’s 7-3 win on home ice gave the team its 27th victory of the season.
Cameron Korpi backstopped the Storm to victory after turning away 25 of Fargo’s 28 shots on net. Matej Marinov dropped the game in goal for the Force after making 28 saves on 34 shots. Graham Gamache was named the 1st Star of the Game, with Evan Werner and Alex Bump collecting 2ndand 3rd Star honors, respectively.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Saturday, March 25th, in a home game against the Fargo Force. 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.
