the team's previous failure to move beyond the first round became a point of consternation among fans. after finishing the 2010–11 season 34–20–6, the stampede defeated rival sioux city musketeers 2–1 and omaha lancers 3–0 and advanced to face the dubuque fighting saints in the western conference championship. the club found success in a balanced attack with no true standouts, as eight different players tallied 30 points or more. the fighting saints bested sioux falls 3–1 in a best-of-five series. the playoff run would be the last of hartzell's career as the team finished the 2011–12 season 17–36–7, the second worst record in team history.