Story by Tri-City Athletic Communications
The Tri-City Storm is set for tonight’s showdown at Buccaneer Arena for a matchup against the Des Moines Buccaneers. The Storm and the Buccaneers battled in back-to-back shootout decisions at the Viaero Center two weekends ago. Tri-City played three road games last week around the Thanksgiving Holiday, and will complete a five-game road trip tomorrow evening in a matchup against the Omaha Lancers. Puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:00pm CT.
Tri-City (8-9-0-1) enters tonight’s matchup with the Buccaneers after posting consecutive road victories last weekend over the Sioux Falls Stampede and Sioux City Musketeers. The Storm is now 5-4-0-1 over the last ten games following a 4-3 shootout victory against the Musketeers last Saturday night at the Tyson Events Center. Daimon Gardner, Trevor Connelly, and Evan Werner each netted a goal for Tri-City during regulation time of Saturday’s game. Cameron O’Neill, Artemi Nizameyev, and Tanner Adams scored for the Storm during the shootout to lift the team to a 4-3 win. Scoring leaders for Tri-City entering tonight’s road game include Evan Werner (10), Kieran Cebrian (8), Tanner Adams (5), Sebastian Törnqvist (5), Graham Gamache (5), Cameron O’Neill (4), and Trevor Connelly (4). Evan Werner was named the USHL’s Forward of the Week for the first time this season for his offensive efforts during the Storm’s three-game week last week. Tonight’s game will be the Storm’s first trip to Buccaneer Arena this season. Tri-City posted a 4-2-0-0 record in head-to-head matchups against Des Moines last season. The Storm is 5-6-0-0 in games played at Buccaneer Arena over the past five seasons. Tri-City currently holds a 1-0-0-1 record against Des Moines through the opening two games of this year’s seven-game season series.
Des Moines (7-8-2-2) enters tonight’s game directly in front of the Storm in the USHL’s Western Conference standings. The Buccaneers dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Dubuque Fighting Saints last Saturday at the Dubuque Ice Arena. Des Moines fell to the Lincoln Stars by a final score of 3-2 one week ago at Buccaneer Arena. Lubomir Kupco (2), and Carter Batchelder scored goals for the Buccaneers in the team’s road loss to the Fighting Saints on Saturday. Scoring leaders for Des Moines entering tonight’s home game against the Storm includes Lubomir Kupco (6), Christian Kocsis (5), Joey Muldowney (5), Jak Vaarwerk (4), and Henry Bartle (4). The Buccaneers have posted a 3-4-1-2 record over the last ten games. Des Moines is 4-3-1-0 in home games to this point in the 2022-2023 regular season. The Buccaneers will host the Sioux City Musketeers tomorrow night at Buccaneer Arena to complete play in a two-game weekend.