Sioux Falls Storm Teams Up With IHOP For Free Pancake Day Today

Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised more than $10 million to support charities in the communities in which it operates.
On February 5th, 2013, guests from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy a FREE short stack of Buttermilk pancakes. In Return for the FREE pancakes, guests will be asked to consider leaving a donation for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals or other designated charities. Make a donation and you will be entered to win Storm season tickets & a Storm game ball.
To help promote this great cause the Sioux Falls Storm has partnered up with IHOP and will have players and Storm girls at both 41st/I-29 and East. 10th Street locations from 11AM-4PM. Stop out to meet the 2013 players, have some FREE pancakes, and donate to a great cause.

Sioux Falls Storm Announce 2013 Coaching Staff

The Sioux Falls Storm announced its 2013 coaching staff, welcoming one new but familiar face to the team and returning three. Dustan Hovorka will join the Storm as the new receivers coach, while Paul Keizer, Josh Sigfried & James Schrenk return alongside Coach Riggs.
Dustan Hovorka will return to the sidelines as the new receivers coach after playing 5 outstanding seasons for the Storm. Hovorka currently works at the University of Sioux Falls as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. While playing for the Storm, Hovorka recorded 16 touchdowns and 523 yards in the 2011 season.
Josh Siegfried returns for his second season as the Storm's defensive coordinator. Siegfried has coached 10 years at Roosevelt, during which they won three state titles. Under Siegfried in 2012, the Storm defense compiled 21 interceptions, 22 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 669 tackles. Siegfried looks to replicate this success in 2013.
Paul Keizer will be entering his fifth season on the Storm coaching staff. Keizer, a former two-time all-star, played for Sioux Falls in 2007 and 2008. During Keizer's career, the Storm allowed an incredibly low 18 sacks on 836 passing attempts. The Storm Offensive Line, led by Keizer, set team record in rushing yards and total points during the 2007 season.
James Schrenk is back for his second season to coach the defending champion defensive line. Schrenk is also the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Augustana College. Schrenk was a four-year-letter-winner at Northern Colorado where he started two years at linebacker and earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors as a senior.
"Anytime you can assemble a staff that is passionate about coaching and has a desire to make others better, than you are very lucky as a head coach," said Storm Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs. "This is the position that I am in for the 2013 season."

Sioux Falls Storm Open Tryout Set for December 29th

The Sioux Falls Storm would like to announce that the first open tryout for the 2013 team will take place on Saturday, December 29th.
The tryout will take place at the Sanford Fieldhouse located at 2215 West Pentagon Place in Sioux Falls. Registration for the tryout will start at 7:30pm with tryouts starting at 8:00pm.
Those wanting to register can do so online at www.siouxfallsstorm.com. The pre-registration fee is $25 if paid before December 29th. Registration is $50 on the day of tryouts and will only be accepted by cash or money order.
Players will be evaluated based on 40-yard sprint, 10 yard sprint, vertical jump, agility and various position specific drills. Those trying out are asked to wear shorts and t-shirt as no pads or helmets will be used during tryouts. Sweats and turf shoes are also required of all players trying out.
Players are encouraged to contact the Storm office at 605-274-6686 for more information

This Week in the IFL Presents United Bowl Preview Show

A champion will be crowned in the Indoor Football League this weekend.
The countdown is on to the 2012 United Bowl as the Tri-Cities Fever meet the Sioux Falls Storm for the third time this season this Saturday, July 14 at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Fans can get a special preview of the big game with an edition of This Week In The IFL as host Denis J. Puska speaks to both starting quarterbacks Chris Dixon of the Storm and Houston Lillard of the Fever.
Dixon will talk about the difference in the Storm from last season to this year and what he expects the keys to game will be. Lillard chats about what his team has learned from last year's United Bowl appearance and more on his brother being drafted in the NBA.
This Week In The IFL is brought to you by Puska Media Services, a communications, production web-content business for sports teams and leagues. To listen to the broadcast click here

2012 United Bowl Preview

The Sioux Falls Storm (16-0) will host the Tri-Cities Fever (14-2) in United Bowl 2012 this Saturday at the Sioux Falls Arena and looks to claim its 6th title in 8 years. Waterbury Coleman is the proud sponsor of the game, which is slated to kick-off at 7:35 PM CT..
Subaru of Sioux Falls is the presenting sponsor of the night's halftime show , which stars Show Baby. Fans can expect the most ambitious and spectacular show of the season.
The Sioux Falls Storm defeated the Green Bay Blizzard 61-42 in the United Conference Championship game. The victory over the Blizzard punched the Storm's ticket to United Bowl 2012. The game will be a rematch of last year's Championship game as the Tri-Cities Fever will return to the Storm Shelter.
Chris Dixon was named the IFL MVP just before last week's conference championship game. Dixon on the season led the league in Passer Rating with 133.3 and threw for over 3300 yards. He also put up 67 touchdown passes to just 7 interceptions. In the playoffs Dixon has a rating of 154.9 with 13 touchdown passes to 0 interceptions in just 2 games.
The Fever are led Houston Lillard who had a season rating of 112.5. He threw for over 2700 yards with 59 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. The Fever beat the Wild last week in the Intense Conference Championship 51-30. In that game Lillard threw for 2 touchdowns for 141 yards.
The Storm and Fever have met three times since the end of the 2011 regular season. In the 2011 United Bowl the Storm had their first ever meeting with the Fever. The Storm defeated the Fever 37-10 for the Storm's fifth championship as a franchise. Earlier this year on May 12, the Fever returned to the Storm Shelter where the undefeated Storm handed the Fever their first defeat of the season with a 55-16 victory. Two weeks later on May 26, the Storm traveled to Washington to take on the Fever in Tri Cities winning 73-72 in an overtime battle.
The Storm and Fever will meet for the forth time in history and third time this season on July 14, 2012 for United Bowl 2012. The Fever has one championship in the team's history and that was with the NIFL in 2005. The Storm has had Five National Titles: (UIFL) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and (IFL) 2011. The Storm looks for its Sixth National Championship as a franchise and first perfect season since 2007.
"We had one goal for 2012, and that was to defend our title," said Storm Owner, Todd Tryon. "Tri-Cities has once again proven to be the best team in the IFL to prevent this from happening. We are extremely excited to host the United Bowl 2012. This will be the biggest show in town!"
Thanks to all the fans for your overwhelming support of the Sioux Falls Storm this season. Fans that are interested in watching a live broadcast of the game can watch the game on MidcoSN, online via B2 or listen on KOOL 107.9 FM.

Indoor Football League Announces MVP and Head Coach of the Year

The Indoor Football League is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 IFL MVP and IFL Coach of the Year.
IFL MVP: Sioux Falls Storm QB Chris Dixon (6'0, 200, Humbolt St. ) has been named the 2012 IFL MVP of the Year. This is Dixon's third MVP award. He previously won the award in 2009 and 2011. Richmond's Bryan Randall won the award in 2010.
A veteran of the indoor game Dixon showcased his incredible accuracy and big play ability all season long as had one of greatest seasons in IFL history. Dixon led the Storm to an undefeated (14-0) regular season; a first in IFL history. He also set IFL records in pass efficiency (133.3), completion percentage (74) and passing yards (3,321). In addition, Dixon led the IFL in touchdown passes with 67.
As a duel- threat QB, Dixon also finished second in the League in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 711 and 30, respectively. He also led the IFL in yards per rush with 6.0. Dixon finished the 2012 regular season with 97 total touchdowns. Since joining the Sioux Falls Storm in 2011, Dixon has the Storm to an unblemished home record of 18-0. Dixon was also selected as the IFL Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Dixon is set to play in his fourth IFL Conference Championship, against the Green Bay Blizzard on Saturday, June 30 at 7:05 p.m. CT.
IFL Coach of the Year: Green Bay Blizzard Head Coach Robert Fuller has been named the 2012 IFL Head Coach of the Year. In his first year with Green Bay, Fuller led the Blizzard to an impressive 11-3 regular season in 2012. This is Fuller's second consecutive IFL Coach of the Year award. He was awarded IFL Coach of the Year in 2011 as Head Coach of the Fairbanks Grizzlies.
Known as a defensive mind, Fuller's defense has set the tone this season. Green Bay's defense allowed an IFL- low 206.6 yards per game and also forced a League-leading 40 turnovers. Seven of those turnovers directly resulted in defensive touchdowns.
Fuller also brings a more traditional take on offense to the IFL as evidenced by the Blizzard's run-first approach. The Blizzard led the League in rushing with 1,458 yards. 1,040 of those yards were by RB LaRon Council. Under Fuller's guidance, Council became the first Indoor Football League player to rush for 1,000 yards, an extreme rarity in indoor football. The Blizzard's special teams unit was second in the IFL in kick return yards and managed to return five kickoffs for touchdowns, good for second in the League.
"I would like to thank our young men, assistant coaches, and our support staff, in particular Assistant Head Coach Chad Baldwin, who is more deserving of the award than I am. Coach of the Year awards are awarded due to the effort of everyone involved in the program, not the efforts of one individual," Fuller stated.
Coach Fuller was also selected for the IFL's Adam Pringle award on Tuesday. The Adam Pringle award is given to the player or coach who exemplified outstanding service and dedication to their surrounding community.
All awards were determined through a coaches' vote.