KEARNEY, NE– The Tri-City Storm defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede by a final score of 6-3 Saturday night at the Viaero Center in the organization's annual Youth Hockey Night game. The Storm will host the Omaha Lancers for the final home game of the regular season, and Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, April 12^th. Tickets to the matchup are available online at www.StormHockey.com, or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office at 308-338-8144. A Nebraska Lottery Rivalry Pack ticket package will be available for the game. The ticket package includes four tickets to the Storm's final home game of the regular season, four hot dogs, four sodas, and ten Nebraska Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets for $44. Puck drop for the Storm's battle against the Lancers for Fan Appreciation Night is set for 7:05pm CT.
 
Grant Dillard netted a shorthanded goal with less than nine minutes to play in Saturday's opening period to give the Sioux Falls Stampede a one-goal lead in the battle. The goal was Dillard's third of the season, and the third shorthanded goal netted by the Stampede this year. Cooper Simpson scored his sixth goal of the year at 14:06 of the 1^st period to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. Trevor Connelly and Owen Beckner each recorded an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City outshot Sioux Falls by a 19-6 margin during the 1^st period, and the 2^nd period began in a 1-1 tie. The Storm's 19 shots on net during Saturday's opening period set a new season high for the team's most shots on goal during a 1^st period this season. Tri-City's previous season-high for 1^st period shots on goal was 18, recorded on Sunday, March 3^rd, 2024, in a 5-4 loss to the Lincon Stars at the Viaero Center.
 
Tri-City netted the only two goals of Saturday's middle period to take a 3-1 advantage in the matchup. The first goal was scored by Trevor Connelly at 5:59 of the 2^nd period. The goal was his team-leading 30^th of the season, and was assisted by Owen Beckner. Connelly became only the tenth player in franchise history to score thirty goals in a single season for the Storm with his middle-period scoring play during Saturday night's game. Cam Briere netted his twenty-second goal of the season with less than five minutes to play in the 2^nd period to increase Tri-City's advantage to two goals. Jake Rozzi and Nolan Roed each collected an assist on the scoring play. The Storm carried a 3-1 lead into the 3^rd period, despite being outshot by a 13-10 margin during the 2^nd period.
 
Owen Beckner scored his fourteenth goal of the season at 4:28 of Saturday's final period to give Tri-City a three-goal advantage in the matchup. Cooper Simpson recorded an assist on the scoring play. Simpson netted his second goal of the game, and seventh goal of the season, at 7:53 of the 3^rd period to put the Storm ahead by a 5-1 score. Simpson's scoring play was assisted by Owen Beckner and Trevor Connelly. Noah Eyre netted his third goal of the year for the Stampede at 10:35 of the 3^rd period to bring the score to 5-2. John McNelis scored his seventeenth goal of the season at 12:16 of the period to bring Sioux Falls within two goals of the Storm's advantage. The final goal of Saturday's contest was scored into an empty net by Trevor Connelly. The goal was his second of the night, and team-leading, thirty-first of the season. Charlie Kinsman and Seth Constance each collected an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City outshot Sioux Falls by a margin of 37-29, and won the game by a final score of 6-3. The Storm improved to 28-21-4-7 on the season, and finished the regular season with a head-to-head record of 4-1-1-1 in games played against the Stampede.
 
Cameron Korpi notched his twenty-sixth win of the season in goal for the Storm in a 26-save-on-29-shot performance. Christian Manz dropped the game in net for the Stampede after making 31 saves on 36 shots. During the 3^rd period of Saturday's game, Korpi passed Carsen Chubak in most minutes played by a Storm goaltender in a single season. Chubak played 2,777 minutes during the 2009-2010 season, and held the organization's record until Saturday night. Korpi has now played 2,783 minutes this season, and is the Storm's new single-season record holder.
 
The Storm hits the ice again on Friday, April 12^th, in a home game against the Omaha Lancers. Puck drop for the matchup 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.