KEARNEY – The Tri-City Storm dropped a 4-3 overtime decision Friday night at the Viaero Center. Alex Bump, Artemi Nizameyev, and Trevor Connelly each netted a goal for the Storm during the matchup. Tri-City dropped to 32-19-4-4 overall on the season, and will host the Buccaneers tomorrow night for the team’s “Community Night” game. Tickets to the battle may be purchased online at www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8144. Puck drop for tomorrow’s rematch in Kearney is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
Braden Rourke scored a shorthanded goal just over seven minutes into Friday’s opening period to give Des Moines a 1-0 advantage in the matchup. The goal was his ninth of the year, and was assisted by Jack Reimann, and Lubomir Kupco. Talon Sigurdson netted his eleventh goal of the season at 14:06 of the 1st period to give the Buccaneers a two-goal lead in the battle. The goal was assisted by Zion Green. Tri-City outshot Des Moines 11-9 during the 1st period, but trailed 2-0 entering the 2nd period.
Alex Bump scored the only goal of Friday’s 2nd period to cut the Des Moines’ lead in half. Bump’s goal was his thirteenth of the season, and was netted at 3:07 of the middle period. The goal was the Storm’s sixth shorthanded goal of the season. Tri-City outshot Des Moines 12-9 in the 2nd period, and trailed by one goal entering Friday’s 3rd period.
Jack Reimann netted his ninth goal of the year at 9:05 of the 3rd period to give Des Moines a 3-1 lead in the game. The goal was assisted by Lubomir Kupco. Tri-City lifted goaltender Cameron Korpi for an extra attacker in the final three minutes of the 3rd period in an attempt to tie the game. Artemi Nizameyev scored his fourth goal of the season at 17:39 of the 3rd period to bring Tri-City within one goal of Des Moines’ lead. The scoring play was assisted by Sebastian Törnqvist and Cale Ashcroft. Trevor Connelly netted his twenty-third goal of the year at 18:10 of the period to bring the game to a 3-3 score, and force an overtime finish. Connelly’s goal was assisted by Cale Ashcroft. The Storm outshot the Buccaneers by a 12-7 margin in the 3rd period.
The final goal of Friday’s contest was netted by Michael Bevilacqua to give Des Moines a 4-3 overtime win over Tri-City. The goal was scored on the powerplay two minutes into the extra period. Henry Bartle and Jack Reimann each collected an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City was outshot 3-0 during the overtime, but outshot Des Moines by an overall margin of 35-28.
The Storm’s powerplay was held off the scoreboard, and finished the game 0/1. Tri-City’s penalty kill was 2/3 during the matchup. Cameron Korpi recorded the overtime loss in net for the Storm after making 24 saves on 28 shots. Max Lundgren collected the victory in goal for the Buccaneers after stopping 32 of the Storm’s 35 shots on goal during the battle.
Tri-City remained the 4th place team in the USHL’s Western Conference standings following the result. The Storm trails the Lincoln Stars by four points entering the final three games of the 2022-2023 regular season. Des Moines tied the Sioux Falls Stampede with fifty-two points in the standings, but remained the 7th place team in the standings following the overtime victory.
A ticket purchased for tomorrow’s Storm home game at the Viaero Center will include a complimentary ticket to a postseason game during Tri-City’s opening round of the Clark Cup Playoffs. This promotion applies to new ticket buyers only.
Tri-City hits the ice again on Saturday, April 15th, in a home game against the Des Moines Buccaneers. 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.
