The Cheyenne Stampede defeated the University of Wyoming Cowboys Saturday Dec. 15, 2012 by a score of 6-2 at the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center. The Stampede also routed the Cowboys in Laramie on Friday Dec. 14, by a score of 9-2.
The Stampede faced off against the University of Wyoming Cowboys in what is becoming a yearly matchup of heated interstate rivals. The Stampede are now 4-0 all-time against the Cowboys. In addition to the victory on Saturday night, the Stampede also had their first ever teddy bear toss, whereupon scoring the first goal of the game, fans showered the ice with over 500 teddy bears to be donated to local charities.
Friday night’s game started with both teams playing a gritty physical style that both teams are known for. The Stampede showed an offensive onslaught that saw team captain Drew Baggen chip in the first goal off of an assist from defenseman Dorran Masters early in the first period. Alex Johansons scored the second goal of the game with Baggen picking up an assist on the play. This was followed by Ryan Demyen scoring with the assists from Denver Lloyd and Russell Armbruster. The Cowboys managed to get on the board in the first when Mitch Nelson took the puck on a breakaway and scored through the five hole.
The second period saw the Stampede’s powerplay go to work, as Ryan Carroll netted a powerplay goal for the Stampede. The tic-tac-toe style goal saw Noah Eckebrecht move the puck to Ian Johnson, who then fed it across to Carroll for the tap in goal. Demyen picked up his second goal of the game a little over a minute later. Dorran Masters was next credited with a goal following a clearing attempt on the penalty kill that hit the goaltender, and was then knocked in by the UW defensemen into his own net. Demyen struck again on the powerplay to complete his hat-trick for the night. In the third period, Elliot Bauder for UW scored an even strength goal, but that was the final tally for the Pokes as Levi Shryack and Austin Krantz both scored to give the Stampede the 9-2 win. Stampede goaltender Cody Stein played phenomenally, only allowing 2 goals on 33 shots.
Saturday night’s game saw the Stampede play in front of a record crowd at the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center. The Stampede scored a little over four minutes into the game when Denver Lloyd scored following an assist from Dario Trupina. Following the goal the ice was showered in teddy bears by fans for charity. A few minutes later, the Stampede scored again when Kevin Rosset moved the puck to Trevor Zakrajsek in the slot, who then fired a snapshot that beat the goaltender high. UW got on the board early in the second period when Ben Squires scored to pull UW within one. Rosset responded shortly afterward with a goal assisted by Ryan Carroll. Russell Armbruster scored a shorthanded goal a few moments later to give the Stampede a hearty lead. The goal was assisted by Ryan Demyen. UW managed one more tally in the second period, but any hope of a comeback was crushed when Armbruster scored again following him and Demyen hooking up on the play for a second time. The final goal of the game saw the roles reversed, as Armbruster assisted on Demyen’s goal to give the Stampede the 6-2 victory over the UW Cowboys.
The Stampede will head to Las Vegas to play in the Western States Hockey League Showcase, and will play four games, starting with a matchup against the Dallas Ice Jets on Tuesday Dec. 18. The Stampede will return home January 11th, 2013 for a matchup against league powerhouse, the El Paso Rhino’s. According to Mark Lantz, GM for the Stampede “these games will be our Cancer Awareness Weekend and the Stampede will don their newest jersey’s in honor of the awareness weekend” Lantz went onto say that they are encouraging everyone who attends to wear pink”
Story by Matthew Humphrey, Stampede Beat Writer
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