Malone's Three Points Propels Dubuque to 4-2 Win

Team USA got the scoring started less than two minutes into the game on a goal from Mike McCarron. The Macomb, Michigan native took a pass and skated in on Dubuque goalie Arthur Brey and fired a low shot just off the ice to put USA up 1-0 on the breakaway goal at 1:48.

The Fighting Saints would even the game on a beautiful setup from Malone late in the first. Malone carried the puck wide on the left-wing into the Team USA zone and made a move around the defenseman. Malone then glided in, looked to shoot, before dishing a pass over to Dylan Gambrell who shot into the open net at 13:21 to tie the game. Gambrell, the Fighting Saints top pick in the recent Future's Draft has joined the team for the Fall Classic and notched his first goal of the preseason.

Malone's name appeared on the scoresheet again in the second period as he tallied his fourth goal of the preseason on a fortunate bounce. After a turnover by Team USA, Malone got the puck on the left side and attempted to thread a pass to the middle. It hit the Team USA defender and rolled between USA goalie Thatcher Demko's legs to give Dubuque a 2-1 lead at 9:15.

Arthur Brey was spectacular for Dubuque in the second period, turning aside numerous scoring chances. His effort wasn't enough to keep Dubuque in front as Evan Allen scored for USA on a turnover at 17:21. The puck rolled in front of the goal and Brey dropped to the ice before Allen roofed it top corner over the netminder.

Dubuque would be the only team that would score in the third period however. Captain Shane Sooth was awarded with a goal off an Eric Freschi shot to give Dubuque a 3-2 lead at 13:42 of the third. Jarrid Privitera rushed the puck in on a two-on-one and Demko stopped the first shot, but Freschi and Sooth followed it up to give the Fighting Saints the lead. Dubuque held on, not allowing USA to pull its goaltender, and Malone added his fifth goal of the preseason on a wild scramble at the end of the game when he caught Demko wandering from the net at 19:57.

Brey stopped 30 shots for the Dubuque to earn his second straight victory at the Fall Classic.

Dubuque remains unbeaten in the preseason with a 5-0 record. The Fighting Saints will finish play at the USHL Fall Classic tomorrow night with a contest with the Youngstown Phantoms at 6:00 p.m. at the IBP Ice Center in Sioux City. That game will be the Fighting Saints final of the preseason.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 20, 2012

• Malone's Three Points Propels Dubuque to 4-2 Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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