The Lancers Drop Their First Preseason Game of 2022
September 8, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Omaha Lancers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA – The Lancers kick off their 2022 preseason run with three straight games at Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa, with game one being against the Sioux Falls Stampede.
The in the 2021-22 season, the Lancers controlled the season series with the Stampede, coming out with a 5-3-0-0 record through eight matchups, as Sioux Falls found themselves in last place in the western conference. But with so many new faces on the Stampede roster, and a new head coach behind the bench, this season could have a much different outcome.
It only took four and a half minutes for Sioux Falls to find the back of the net. During a Will Diamond penalty for Omaha, the top line of offense got to work for the Stampede. Maddox Fleming snuck one by Lancers’ goaltender, Michael Hrabal off feeds from Sam Harris and Merril Steenari to take the early 1-0 lead.
It took nearly 10 minutes for the Lancers to answer, as Jamison Sluys found Alex Bump down low in the attacking zone. Bump skated right up to the doorstep of Stampede netminder Jackson Irving and roofed one over his short side shoulder to knot the game at one goal apiece.
Sioux Falls was able to steal the lead right back before heading to the locker room as Maddox Fleming intercepted a pass behind the net from Hrabal and quickly found Steenari in the goal crease for an easy, wide-open goal to end the first period with a 2-1 lead. Fleming and Steenari ended the first period already having multi-point nights.
The Stampede struck again just over seven minutes into the second period just five seconds into 4-on-4 play following simultaneous penalties from Omaha’s Mateo Picozzi and Sioux Falls’ Tim Delay.
After a clean face-off win in the Lancers’ zone by Jack Reimann, Zachary Sharp skated into the high slot and blasted a shot through traffic and over the glove of Hrabal to extend the Stampede’s lead to 3-1.
Just moments later, Sam Harris picked up a holding penalty to move play to a 4-on-3 power-play for Omaha for 1:50. And just over 90 seconds into the man advantage, Nate Benoit netted a slap shot from just behind the high slot off feeds from Tucker Shedd and Matt Romer to pull the Lancers within a goal, as the second period concluded with a 3-2 Stampede lead.
Both squads added a goal in the third, as Cole Miller netted one top shelf off an assist from Ryan Gordon just 2:31 into the period to make it a 4-2 game.
The Lancers pulled within a goal late, as Matt Romer couldn’t score on a breakaway, but had Evan Werner to bury the rebound behind him, tacking up two assists on the night for Romer and a secondary assist for Andon Cerbone on the play.
The Lancers had the momentum with the extra-attacker late, but couldn’t manage to tie the game up, and fell to Sioux Falls 4-3.
Although the Lancers lost this one, the offensive pressure was there, outshooting the Stampede 32-28 on the night. But solid goaltending for the Stampede was a key component in Sioux Falls taking the game by a goal.
The Lancers take on the Sioux City Musketeers back in Sioux City tomorrow (9/9) in their second preseason game of 2022. Puck drop is set for 7:05PM CST and can be caught on FloSports and Mixlr.
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