KEARNEY, NE. – The Tri-City Storm won a three-game weekend series against the league-leading Fargo Force with a 6-2 victory Sunday afternoon at the Viaero Center. Tri-City collected five of a possible six points in the USHL's Western Conference standings in their weekend performance. A.J. Lacroix, Trevor Connelly, Seth Constance, August Falloon, Cam Briere, and Cooper Simpson netted goals for the Storm in Sunday afternoon's four-goal victory over the Force at the Viaero Center. Tri-City will play its next five games on the road before returning home for a two-game weekend series against the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday, April 5^th, and Saturday, April 6^th. Tickets to each game, and the Storm's final home game of the regular season against the Omaha Lancers on Friday, April 12^th, may be purchased online by skating to www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office Hours at 308-388-8144.
 
The only goal of Sunday's opening period was netted by A.J. Lacroix with less than six minutes to play. The goal was scored even strength, and was assisted by Trevor Connelly. The Storm outshot the Force by a 6-2 margin in the 1^st period, and Tri-City carried a 1-0 lead into the 2^nd period.
 
Tri-City built a four-goal lead with an offensive breakout during Sunday's middle period. Trevor Connelly netted his team-leading twenty-sixth goal of the season at 2:50 of the 2^nd period to increase the Storm's lead to 2-0. Connelly's goal was scored shorthanded, and was the Storm's sixth shorthanded goal of the season. Seth Constance scored his fifth goal of the season at 9:48 of the 2^nd period to give Tri-City a three-goal lead in the matchup. Constance's goal was assisted by Charlie Kinsman and A.J. Lacroix. August Falloon netted a powerplay goal for the Storm with just over five minutes left to play in the middle period to increase Tri-City's advantage to four goals. Artemi Nizameyev and Vladislav Lukashevich each collected an assist on the scoring play. The powerplay goal scored by Falloon was the Storm's fifty-second netted on the man-advantage this season. The Force outshot the Storm 12-6 in the middle period, but trailed by three goals entering Sunday's 3^rd period.
 
Cam Briere scored his twentieth goal of the season fifty-four seconds into Sunday's final period of the weekend series to increase the Storm's lead to 5-1. Cooper Simpson netted his third goal of the year at 6:13 of the 3^rd period to give Tri-City a five-goal lead in the game. Simpson's goal was assisted by August Falloon. The final goal of Sunday's contest was netted by Fargo's Michael Quinn at 9:58 of the period. The goal was his sixth of the season, and was scored on the powerplay. Mac Swanson and Michael LaStarza each collected an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City outshot Fargo 10-6 in the 3^rd period, and 22-20 overall in the matchup. The Storm completed the weekend with a 2-0-0-1 record against the Force, and outscored Fargo 17-9.
 
Cameron Korpi collected the win in goal for Tri-City after stopping 18 of the Force's 20 shots on net. Anton Castro dropped the game in net for Fargo in a 16-save-on-22-shot effort. The Storm improved to 26-18-4-5 on the regular season with the victory. Tri-City's magic number to clinch a spot in the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs dropped to six points following the victory. Six of the Storm's final nine games of the regular season will be played on the road, including the team's next five games.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Friday, March 22^nd, in a road game against the Des Moines Buccaneers. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 7:00pm 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.