Team Blue Holds Off White At Stampede Tryout Camp

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- If the first All-Star Game is any indication of what the 2013-14 season might look for the Sioux Falls Stampede, fans might be in for another treat this season.

Tony Calderone scored twice and Jake Ahlgren added a goal to lift Team Blue to a 3-2 victory over Team White in the first All-Star Game at Stampede tryout camp Sunday night. Dennis Kravchenko scored twice as well for Team White who will get another crack at Blue Monday morning in the second and final All-Star Game at Ridder Arena.

The rosters have been reduced to 40 players for both All-Star Games this weekend. Sunday’s game consisted of two, 30-minute halves.

The game was scoreless for the first 17 minutes until Tony Calderone (Stampede) got Blue on the board.  Griffen Molino (Brockville Braves) brought the puck inside the left circle before dropping into the slot for Conner Valesano (Stampede) who quickly fed Calderone who one-timed the puck past Team White goaltender David Jacobson (Stampede).

White would respond five minutes later when the Herd’s leading scorer from last season, Dennis Kravchenko, scored. Kravchenko weaved his way through the Blue defense and danced inside the right circle before lifting the puck into the upper left hand corner of the net, just under the cross bar to tie the game 1-1. Jacobson was solid for White in goal while Gabe Grunwald (Georgetown Raiders) was the same for Blue and the game was 1-1 at the end of the first half.

Calderone, who was recently named to the USHL All-Rookie Team, scored his second of the night just seven minutes into the second half. He took a pass at center ice from Dakota Joshua (Detroit Honeybaked) and broke into the White zone on a breakaway, scoring on a wrister that sent the puck into the upper right hand corner of the net past the glove of Stephanos Lekkas (Chicago Mission). Team White had a chance to tie the game with 17 minutes remaining, but Logan O’Connor (Calgary Royals) was stopped on a penalty shot by Shane Starrett (Selects Academy Major Midget).

Six minutes later Team Blue added to their lead when Jake Ahlgren (Stampede) scored on a penalty shot. Ahlgren faked a forehand shot and went to his backhand and the puck sailed over the left pad of Lekkas and into the net to give Blue a 3-1 lead. White got within in a goal in the final minute when Kravchenko made the most of his opportunity on a penalty shot, sending the puck under the left pad of Shane Starrett to make it a one-goal game. With the goaltender pulled, White put on pressure late, but Blue held on for the 3-2 victory. Lekkas played the entire second half in goal for White while Starrett played the entire second half in goal for Blue.

Camp concludes Monday morning when White and Blue meet again at 9:30 AM

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede