OMAHA, Neb. – In a preseason opening day-night doubleheader, the Tri-City Storm swept the Des Moines Buccaneers, winning 5-2 in the afternoon and finishing the day with a 3-2 shootout victory in the nightcap.
Forward Cody Milan scored two goals for Tri-City in Game 1, while forward Chris Wilkie had goals in regulation and the shootout during Game 2.
Storm netminder Blake Weyrick played the entirety of both games in between the pipes, picking up wins in both games.
Each game featured two periods with a running clock, making the exhibitions an informal day at the Ralston Arena in Omaha, a neutral site for the two clubs.
In Game 1, Tri-City had a slow start to the first period, but turned it on in the second frame, scoring five straight times.
Des Moines took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at the conclusion of the first on a goal by forward Ryan Dmowski.
The Storm started the second period shorthanded after a penalty to forward Mark Petaccio, but they were able to tie the game at 1-1 on a goal by Milan while down a man.
After evening the game, Tri-City came to life and took control. Defenseman Cam Spicer made it 2-1, scoring a goal off a face-off that had been won by center Conner Valesano.
Additional goals were tallied by Mark Petaccio and Joel Herbert before Milan made it 5-1 with his second strike of the period and put the game out of reach for the Buccaneers.
Brendan Shane had the second Des Moines goal of the game that closed the scoring in the opener.
In Game 2, Wilkie got the Storm out in front with the only score of the first, throwing a puck at the net which defected off a Buccaneer and into the goal to give Tri-City a 1-0 lead.
The Omaha native was at it again in the second, connecting with forward Jake Wahlin on a play in front to get the puck past Des Moines goaltender Ryan Ruck and make it a 2-0 Storm lead.
Des Moines got back into the game late in the second, scoring twice to tie things up at 2-2. Forward Patrick Grasso got the first, while defenseman Corey Schueneman notched a power play goal as the equalizer.
In the shootout, Tri-City got ahead when Wilkie, the team’s first shooter, converted to take a 1-0 lead. Petaccio sealed the win, scoring as the team’s third and final attempt.
Next weekend Tri-City will be tested three more times, playing Lincoln on the road Friday, in Kearney vs. the Stars on Saturday and in Omaha against the Lancers Sunday.
The Storm will open the regular season in Lincoln on Sept. 26 in and return to Kearney for the home opener on Oct. 3 vs. Sioux Falls.
GAME 1 SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Des Moines – Ryan Dmowski
2nd Period
Tri-City – Cody Milan (shorthanded) (Mason Appleton)
Tri-City – Cam Spicer (Conner Valesano) off a face-off
Tri-City – Mark Petaccio (Cam Spicer)
Tri-City – Joel Herbert (Nolan Aibel, Mark Petaccio)
Tri-City – Cody Milan (Mason Appleton, Matt Freytag)
Des Moines – Brendan Shane
GAME 2 SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie
2nd Period
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin
Des Moines – Patrick Grasso
Des Moines – Corey Schueneman