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Fighting Saints Comeback Attempt Falls Short in 3-2 Loss

September 21, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL) Dubuque Fighting Saints

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints comeback attempt fell short Friday night as they were topped by the Youngstown Phantoms 3--‐2 from the IBP Ice Center in Sioux Falls, IA. The loss was the Fighting Saints first of the preseason, and the club finished the USHL Fall Classic at 2--‐1 overall, and the preseason with a record of 5--‐1.

The scoring was opened by Youngstown just under two minutes into the game as the Fighting Saints found themselves down early for a second straight night. Austin Cangelosi scored on the powerplay at 1:58, and the Phantoms added a second goal at 15:06 from Luke Stork to earn a 2--‐ 0 lead in the first period. Stork's goal came off a shot from the point that resulted in a net mouth scramble and Stork, while sliding to the ice, knocked the puck over sprawled Dubuque netminder Connor Girard. Dubuque fired 14 shots in the first period but Phantoms goalie Sean Romeo stood tall in net.

Dubuque appeared to have cut the lead in half early in the second period when Peter Quenneville broke past the defense and skated in alone on Romeo. Quenneville shot the puck low along with ice then crashed into Romeo. The puck went into the net, along with the two players, but the official ruled that it was no goal due to goalie interference. The Phantoms would then turn the tables and add to its lead on a J.T. Stenglein shorthanded goal at 5:50. Cangelosi of

the Phantoms hit Stenglein with a lead pass, and broke in two--‐on--‐none on Girard, and Stenglein outwaited the Dubuque goalie, flicking a shot up and over Girard, to make it 3--‐0.

The Fighting Saints comeback attempt was started by team captain Shane Sooth mid--‐way through the third period. A broken play resulted in the puck popping high into the air in the offensive zone. Sooth collected it and skated in alone on Romeo, cutting the left and shooting it in low stick side to put Dubuque on the board.

The Fighting Saints cut the lead to one at 15:12 when Frankie DiChiara scored to make it 3--‐2. Niklas Nevalainen took a pass from Brandon Carlson and fired a slapshot from the right point that got blocked by a tangled up group of players in front. It deflected to the left side of the ice where DiChiara spun and shot the puck into the open goal to pull Dubuque close.

The Fighting Saints pulled Girard and had several late offensive zone faceoffs, but could not tie the game. Dubuque outshot Youngstown 33--‐23 in the loss.

The Fighting Saints open regular season play on September 28 versus the Tri--‐City Storm at 7:35 p.m. from the Mystique Community Ice Center. That evening is Opening Night presented by American Trust. Tickets still remain and are available by calling 563.583.6880 or by going online to DubuqueFIghtingSaints.com

About the Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Fighting Saints returned to USHL play in the brand new Mystique Community Ice Center during the 2010--‐11 Season, winning the Clark Cup in their first year back in the USHL. In two seasons, the club has produced a number of players that moved on to NCAA Division I hockey. At the 2012 NHL Draft, six players with ties to Dubuque were selected, including first--‐round picks Zemgus Girgensons (14th, Buffalo) and Mike Matheson (23rd, Florida.) The original Fighting Saints competed in the USHL for 21 seasons (1980 --‐ 2001). The Club won the Clark Cup as playoff champions on three occasions (1981, 1983, 1985) under head coach Jack Barzee. One of the most well--‐known alumni of the original Fighting Saints was Gary Suter, a 17--‐year NHL veteran, two time Olympian, Stanley Cup winner, and member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2012


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