Nehama Blanks Former Team as Dubuque Beats Lincoln 1-0
December 12, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
LINCOLN, NE-Jacob Nehama's return to Lincoln could not have gone better. The former Stars goaltender pitched a shutout against his former club, stopping 34 shots to lead a depleted Dubuque Fighting Saints squad to a 1-0 victory over Lincoln Friday night at The Ice Box. Dubuque, playing with out nearly a dozen players due to international play, suspensions or injuries, improved to 14-7-1 with the win.
The lone goal came from Mitchell Smith who struck on a breakaway only 7:45 into the game to give Dubuque the early lead. After Dubuque had been trapped in its own zone for an extended period, the puck was knocked to center. Smith won a race and beat the defender to loose puck, and beat Stars goaltender Cam Hackett with a wrist shot over the glove for his 8th goal of the year.
The second period saw the two team's trade chances but the goaltenders were up to the task. Nehama stopped 15 shots in the game's middle frame, and Hackett was equally as good, denying Mitchell Smith's penalty shot and stopping two shorthanded breakaways.
In the third period, the Stars threw everything they had at their former teammate, but Nehama stood his ground, stopping 11 more Lincoln attempts, including two key saves in the closing minutes. The shutout was Nehama's second with Dubuque this season. Dubuque was outshot by Lincoln, 34-29 in the win.
Dubuque was playing without 11 players on its roster Friday. Keegan Ford will join the team next week once his finals are complete, while Dylan Gambrell, Seamus Malone and Blake Hillman are playing with Team USA at the Junior A. Challenge. Dubuque was also without suspended forwards Jacob Benson and Evan Smith, as well as injured forwards J.D. Dudek, Ryan Stevens, Zack Zulkanycz, Jakob Romo and injured defenseman Sasha Larocque. Three affiliate list players filled out Dubuque's roster and a pair of forwards brought in on-loan from Brookings of the North American Hockey League.
Dubuque returns to the ice next Friday in Green Bay for their final game before the holidays. The team returns to the Mystique Community Ice Center on December 27. The Fighting Saints offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through December 19th, and special holiday hours December 20-24, for holiday gift card and merchandise purchases. More information on upcoming games and tickets can be found on DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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