Sioux Falls, S.D. (STAMPEDE) — The Sioux Falls Stampede sweep in their first home doubleheader of the season. Goals from Sam Spehar, John McNelis, and Reid Varkonyi helped push the team to a 5-3 win over the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. Goaltender Aiden Wright made both starts this weekend and took home the win tonight with 15 saves.
The Stampede set themselves up with work to do late in the first period. Less than a minute into the game the Herd found themselves on their first power play of the night. The team was unable to take advantage and Cedar Rapids proceeded to score two goals in under three minutes. The first Cedar Rapids goal came at 10:03 when Heath Nelson found the back of the net. Their second goal came at 12:48 when Cayden Casey stuck it five-hole on goaltender Aiden Wright. The Herd then headed to their first penalty of the night. Forward Reid Varkonyi was called for Checking-from-Behind and was also given a 10-minute misconduct. Sioux Falls was able to kill the penalty and shift the momentum. Sam Spehar shoveled one out front thanks to pass from teammate Ethan Wyttenbach. Gennadi Chaly was also credited with an assist on the goal. Spehar struck again at 19:11 of the first period. A similar play out front earned the Stampede their first power-play goal of the season. Noah Urness was credited with the assist on the power play goal. Though the Herd found themselves down early, the group outshot the Roughriders 20-4 in the first period.