KEARNEY, NE. – The Tri-City Storm opened play this weekend with an 8-3 win over the league-leading Fargo Force Friday night at the Viaero Center. Vsevolod Logvin (2), Artemi Nizameyev (2), Trevor Connelly (2), Cam Briere, and Cooper Simpson each scored goals for the Storm in the victory. Cameron Korpi won the game in net to improve to 23-11-1-4 on the season in goal for Tri-City. The Storm returns to action tomorrow in another home game against the Force. Puck drop for tomorrow's battle between Fargo and Tri-City at the Viaero Center is scheduled for 6:05pm CT.
 
Vsevolod Logvin netted his first goal of the contest, and fourth goal of the season at 4:07 of Friday's opening period to give the Storm a one-goal advantage. Vladislav Lukashevich and Cameron Korpi each recorded an assist on the scoring play. Korpi's assist was his second of the season, and he became the 10^th goaltender in organization history to record multiple assists in a single season. Vsevolod Logvin scored his second goal of the matchup, and fifth goal of the year, at 6:38 of the 1^st period to give the Storm a two-goal advantage in the matchup. A.J. Lacroix recorded an assist on the scoring play. Trevor Connelly netted his team-leading twenty-fourth goal of the year at 11:32 to increase Tri-City's lead to three goals. The goal was scored on the powerplay, and was assisted by Seth Constance and Owen Beckner. The final goal of Friday's opening period was netted with less than six minutes to play by Artemi Nizameyev. Nizameyev's goal was his thirteenth of the year, and was assisted by Vladislav Lukashevich. Tri-City outshot Fargo 9-8 in the 1^st period, and carried a four-goal advantage into the middle period.
 
The first goal of Friday's 2^nd period was scored only ten seconds into the period by Artemi Nizameyev. Nizameyev's goal was his second of the night, and fourteenth of the season. Trevor Connelly notched an assist on the scoring play. The Storm took its largest lead of the night with Cam Briere's eighteenth goal of the season at 7:31 of the middle period. Briere's scoring play was assisted by Shaun McEwen and Ryan Smith, and gave Tri-City a six-goal lead in the matchup. Fargo's first goal of the game was scored less than two minutes later on the powerplay. Zam Plante netted his eighth goal of the season to put the Force on the scoreboard. Mac Swanson and Jake Fisher each collected an assist on the scoring play. Plante's goal was the final scoring play of the 2^nd period, and the Storm carried a commanding 6-1 lead into Friday's 3^rd period. Each team notched 11 shots on net during the 2^nd period.
 
Finn McLaughlin scored his first goal of the season for Fargo at 2:47 of the 3^rd period to bring the score to 6-2. Zam Plante and Peter Cisar recorded an assist on the scoring play. Trevor Connelly responded for Tri-City with his second goal of the night, and team-leading twenty-fifth goal of the season at 7:02 of the final period. Artemi Nizameyev and Charlie Kinsman each notched an assist on the scoring play. Brandon Svoboda scored for the twelfth time this season at 10:14 of the 3^rd period to bring Fargo within four goals of Tri-City's lead. Michael LaStarza recorded the lone assist on the Force's final goal of the game. Cooper Simpson scored his second goal of the season with under a minute to play in Friday's game to give the Storm an 8-3 advantage in the contest. Carmelo Crandell recorded an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City improved to 25-18-4-4 overall, and 2-2-0-0 in head-to-head matchups against Fargo on the 2023-2024 regular season in Friday's 8-3 victory on home ice at the Viaero Center. The Force outshot the Storm 10-7 during the 3^rd period, and 29-27 overall during the contest. Tri-City improved to 9-5-3-2 when outshot by its opponents this season in Friday's five-goal win.
 
Cameron Korpi made 26 saves on 29 shots to record the win in goal for the Storm. Hampton Slukynsky dropped the game in goal for Fargo in a 19-save-on-27-shot effort.
 
Saturday's home game at the Viaero Center is "Faith & Family Night". Local churches were sent a code to purchase discounted tickets to the matchup. There will also be a postgame autograph session following the matchup with Storm players Philippe Blais-Savoie and Owen Beckner.
 
Sunday's game will serve as the organization's annual "United Way Game" and will also feature a St. Patrick's Day promotion. Tri-City will wear specialty sweaters during the matchup that will be auctioned off following the game. A select number of Nebraska Lottery Family Four-Packs are also available. The four-pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for only $44. This special ticket package is available in limited quantities, and often sells out prior to puck drop. Please contact the Viaero Center Box Office for the latest ticket information.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Saturday, March 16^th, in a home game against the Fargo Force. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 6:05pm 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.