KEARNEY, NE – The Tri-City Storm dropped a 6-5 decision to the Muskegon Lumberjacks Saturday night at the Viaero Center to drop to 10-7-1-0 overall on the 2023-2024 regular season. Cam Briere, Alexander Bales, A.J. Lacroix, Dallas Vieau, and Ryan Smith netted goals for the Storm in the home loss. Tri-City will return to action on Wednesday in a road matchup against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop for the rivalry matchup is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. The Storm's next home games will be played on Friday, December 1^st, and Saturday, December 2^nd, against the Green Bay Gamblers. Puck drop for Friday's home game is set for 7:05pm CT, and Saturday's game will begin at 6:05pm CT. Tickets to upcoming home games at the Viaero Center may be purchased by skating to www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office Hours at 308-338-8144.
 
Cam Briere scored his sixth goal of the season just over three minutes into Saturday's opening period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead in the matchup. Briere's goal was netted shorthanded, and was assisted by A.J. Lacroix, and Philippe Blais-Savoie. Jack Galanek provided an answer for the Lumberjacks with a powerplay goal at 6:07 of the 1^st period. Galanek's goal was his fifth of the year, and was assisted by David Klee and Xavier Veilleux. Alexander Bales scored his first goal of the season at 11:35 of the 1^st period to give Tri-City a 2-1 advantage in the matchup. The goal was scored on a delayed penalty, and was assisted by Artemi Nizameyev, and A.J. Lacroix. Sacha Boisvert scored his team-leading twelfth goal of the season for the Lumberjacks at 16:20 of the opening period to bring the game to a 2-2 tie. Ryan Koering scored his first goal of the year less than a minute later to give Muskegon a 3-2 lead in the matchup. Justin Solovey, and Sacha Boisvert each notched an assist on the scoring play. The final goal of Saturday's opening period was scored by A.J. Lacroix at 18:21 of the period. The goal was his third of the season, and was netted unassisted. Muskegon outshot Tri-City 19-16 during the opening period, and the 2^nd period began in a 3-3 tie.
 
Dallas Vieau gave the Storm the lead with his fourth goal of the season at 8:48 of Saturday's middle period. The goal was assisted by Blake Steenerson. Steenerson's assist was his first assist, and first point, of his USHL career. Wilson Dahlheimer scored his first goal of the season at 12:07 of the 2^nd period to bring the game to a 4-4 tie. Patrick Raftery notched an assist on the scoring play. Hunter Anderson scored his ninth goal of the year at 16:55 of the 2^nd period to give Muskegon a one-goal advantage in the matchup. Easton Young notched an assist on the scoring play. The Lumberjacks outshot the Storm 15-9 during the middle period, and Tri-City began the final period of play trailing by a single goal.
 
Justin Solovey scored his seventh goal of the year at 12:47 of the 3^rd period to increase the Lumberjacks lead to two goals. The scoring play was assisted by Sacha Boisvert. The final goal of Saturday's battle was scored by Ryan Smith with less than two minutes to play. The goal was netted with an extra attacker on the ice. Smith's scoring play was his eighth of the season, and was assisted by Owen Beckner and Cam Briere. The Storm was outshot by a 7-5 margin in the 3^rd period, and by an overall margin of 41-30 during the matchup. Tri-City fell to 6-3-0-0 through the opening nine home games played at the Viaero Center this season.
 
Ivan Zhigalov dropped the game in net for the Storm in a 35-save-on-41-shot performance. Paxton Geisel picked up the win in goal for the Lumberjacks after turning away 25 of Tri-City's 30 shots on net during the game. Tri-City completed the two-game season series against Muskegon with a final record of 1-1-0-0.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Wednesday, November 22^nd, in a road game against the Lincoln Stars. 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. The Tri-City Storm is presented by Viaero Wireless.