KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm is set to host the Des Moines Buccaneers for a two-game home series this weekend at the Viaero Center. Ticket deals for tonight’s matchup include a “2-For-1” ticket package, a free playoff game ticket, and a $5 Kids’ Friday. Additional details on each ticket special can be found below. Tickets for tonight’s game may be purchased online at www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8144. Puck drop for tonight’s battle between the Storm and Buccaneers is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
A ticket purchased for tonight’s home game will include a complimentary ticket to tomorrow night’s home game as part of the Storm’s “2-For-1” deal. There will be a post-game autograph session on the concourse following each game this weekend. The team will be split across the two games during the autograph sessions, and the “2-For-1” ticket deal will give Storm fans the ability to attend both games, and autograph sessions. Additionally, any ticket purchased for one of Tri-City’s final three home games of the regular season (April 14th vs. Des Moines, April 15th vs. Des Moines, April 22nd vs. Lincoln) will be good for free admittance to a home game during the Storm’s opening round of the Clark Cup Playoffs. Any ticket purchased today will qualify for the FREE ticket to tomorrow’s game. In order to qualify for the playoff ticket deal over the next 3-regular season home games, the purchase needs to take place today through the end of the regular season. These promotions apply to new ticket buyers only.
Tonight’s game at the Viaero Center will also feature a $5 Kids’ Friday presented by the Big Apple Fun Center in Kearney. The season-long promotion includes discounted pricing for Kids’ tickets to 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). Tomorrow night’s game at the Viaero Center is the Storm’s “Community Night”. Multiple local sponsors will be featured and set up along the concourse.
Tri-City (32-19-3-4) suffered back-to-back road losses last weekend to the Sioux City Musketeers and Sioux Falls Stampede. The Storm most recently fell in a shootout by a final score of 2-1 last Saturday night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center to the Sioux Falls Stampede. Trevor Connelly netted Tri-City’s lone goal in the road loss. Cale Ashcroft recorded an assist on the 3rd period scoring play by Connelly. Patriks Bērziņš shined in goal for Tri-City, making 26 saves on 27 shots during 65 minutes of playing time. He also stopped 4 out of 5 shots during the shootout. The Storm will play three of the final four games of the regular season on home ice. Tri-City has amassed a 17-5-2-2 record in games played at the Viaero Center this season. The Storm won last year’s season series against the Buccaneers with a final record of 4-2-0-0. Tri-City is 3-1-0-1 in head-to-head matchups against Des Moines this year entering the final two meetings of the regular season. The Storm has posted a 14-10-1-2 record in games played against the Buccaneers over the last five seasons. Scoring leaders for Tri-City entering the final four games of the regular season include Jake Richard (31), Trevor Connelly (22), Graham Gamache (19), Evan Werner (18), Kieran Cebrian (16), and Dane Dowiak (14). The Storm currently trails the Lincoln Stars by three points for 3rd place in the USHL’s Western Conference standings.
Des Moines (21-28-5-3) enters this weekend’s road series against the Storm one point out of a playoff position. The Buccaneers trail the 6th-place Sioux Falls Stampede, and will see the organization’s playoff fate play out over the final two weeks of the regular season. Des Moines has one game in hand over Sioux Falls, and the matchup is scheduled for Sunday evening at Liberty First Credit Union Arena against the Omaha Lancers. The Buccaneers have produced a record of 3-7-0-0 over the last ten games. The team holds the worst road record in the league this season, with an away record of 5-16-4-2. Since defeating Tri-City at the Viaero Center by a final score of 5-4 on November 19th, the Buccaneers have won twice on the road, with a record of 2-11-4-0. Des Moines split home games last weekend against the Fargo Force and Sioux City Musketeers. The Buccaneers dropped a 4-1 decision against the league-leading Force on Friday, April 7th, and bounced back with a six-goal victory over the Musketeers on Saturday, April 8th. Leading 2-1 in the 3rd period, the Des Moines offense exploded for a season-high five 3rd period goals to give the team a 7-1 win over the Musketeers at Buccaneer Arena. Gustav Stjernberg, Jak Vaarwerk, Davis Borozinskis, Lubomir Kupco, Chase Ramsay, Braden Rourke, and Cayden Casey all netted goals for the Buccaneers in the victory. Scoring leaders for Des Moines entering the final five games of the regular season include Lubomir Kupco (16), Joey Muldowney (15), Jak Vaarwerk (13), Christian Kocsis (10), Talon Sigurdson (10), and Henry Bartle (10).
Tonight’s game is set to begin at 7:05pm CT and will be streamed on FloHockey, and Storm Radio. Tickets to future home games at the Viaero Center may be purchased online by skating to www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office hours at 308-338-8144.
