Stampede Open Season Friday, Announce Roster

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- The Sioux Falls Stampede open the 2012-13 regular season this Friday in Lincoln when they face the Stars at 7:05 PM. It marks the second straight year the Stampede will begin the season in Lincoln. The Herd will then travel to Waterloo on Saturday to face the defending Western Conference champion Black Hawks at 7:05 PM.

The Stampede’s home opener is set for next Friday, October 5th at 7:05 PM when the Herd host the Omaha Lancers at the Sioux Falls Arena. The first 1,500 fans through the doors will receive a FREE Stampede magnetic schedule, compliments of Applebee’s.

Stampede announce opening night roster

The Stampede announced their roster for opening night on Monday. All USHL teams have to cut down their roster to 23 players by Tuesday.

The roster includes seven returning veterans from last season (Ed McGovern, Ian Mansfield, Sam Rothstein, Todd Skirving Matt Van Voorhis, Reed Whiteside and Charlie Lindgren) as well as five other players who skated in the USHL or NAHL last year.

#1 overall draft pick Tony Calderone and Sioux Falls native Zeb Knutson are also on the roster. Knutson becomes the first ever Sioux Falls native to make a USHL roster.

Stampede acquire defenseman Downing from Dubuque

The Stampede also announced Monday they have acquired veteran defenseman Jake Downing from the Dubuque Fighting Saints in exchange for a 5th round draft pick in the 2013 USHL Draft.

In 41 games with the Saints last year, Downing posted 7 points (1g, 6a) and was a +12. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman is a native of Canton, MI spent the 2010-11 season with the Omaha Lancers.

Ahlgren “Player to Watch” for NHL Draft

Stampede forward Jake Ahlgren was listed as a “C” skater by NHL Central Scouting on their “players to watch” list for the 2013 NHL Draft.

NHL Central Scouting compiled the list to track the top draft-eligible players in leagues throughout the world and listed them with “A”, “B”, or “C” rating. “A” players are considered potential first-round NHL picks, “B” players are considered second- to third-round picks, while “C” are possible fourth- to sixth-round selections.

Ahlgren skated last year at Fergus Falls High School in Minnesota, leading the team in scoring with 55 points (23g, 32a) and a +3 rating in 27 games. He finished the year with an average of 2.04 points per-game.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede