The Sioux Falls Stampede found the back of the net three times in the second period, while six different skaters scored overall in the team's season opener at the 2024 USHL Fall Classic on Saturday.
The Sioux Falls Stampede found the back of the net three times in the second period, while six different skaters scored overall in the team's season opener at the 2024 USHL Fall Classic on Saturday.
The Sioux Falls Stampede found themselves down a goal just over nine minutes into their season, but the Herd showed no signs of panic.
The U.S. National Team Development Program U18 team opened the scoring on Cole McKinney's first goal of the season at the 9:02 mark of the frame. However, former NTDP forward Austin Baker tied the game with under a minute to play in the first period after winning a footrace to a loose puck and using a burst of speed to score shorthanded.
McKinney scored his second of the game early in the second period after Sioux Falls turned the puck over in their own zone. The NTDP forward's shot emphatically popped the water bottle off to temporarily put Team USA back on top, 2-1.
The lead was shortlived, as Sioux Falls converted on Egor Barabanov's first tally of the 2024-25 season on a play in transtion less than three minutes later. Ethan Wyttenbach sent the puck up-ice ahead of Reid Varkonyi, who dove to send a last-ditch centering feed to a wide-open Barabanov, who then scored on a wrister in front.
That started a run of three goals in less than nine minutes for the Stampede.
Sam Spehar put Sioux Falls in front less than two minutes after Barabanov's goal. John McNelis then scored on a breakaway approaching the end of the frame. Shots came at a premium in the second period, with Team USA holding a 6-5 advantage. However, Sioux Falls scored on three of their shots.
Coming out of the locker room, the Herd picked up where they left off and added two more goals in the third period to take a 6-2 lead. Noah Urness scored his first career USHL goal on a second-chance opportunity after Hawke Huff's initial shot was turned aside. Less than eight minutes later, Aiden Welch tallied his first in a Sioux Falls sweater.
Team USA would close the gap on Richard Gallant's first of the year after the puck rebounded off the post. However, that would be all Aiden Wright would allow in his team debut.