Capitols Outslug Saints to Stay Hot
January 20, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
MIDDLETON, Wis. - The Dubuque Fighting Saints battled back from two different deficits, but it was the Madison Capitols who broke away in the third period. The Caps held on to win their seventh in the last eight games, 5-3, at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena on Thursday night.
Two goals from Alec Broetzman in the second period staked the Capitols to the lead for good, following a Dubuque rally. Just 20 seconds after Aidan Fulp's first USHL goal, a snap shot from the right point, found a way through Dryden McKay, Broetzman's sharp angle shot found a way through Cole Weaver to give Madison the 3-2 lead.
Broetzman added one more late in the third on a Fighting Saints giveaway to score the game winner. Cade Borchardt scored the only goal of the third period to extend Madison's lead to its highest once again at two goals, 5-3.
The Saints found themselves down two early in the second period, but as they have all season long, started on the comeback trail. At the 7:50 mark of the second, Logan Pietila chipped the puck off the wall in the defensive zone, and found a streaking Alex Steeves, who started a 2-on-1 break. After toe dragging around a defender, Steeves connected with Santeri Virtanen, who ended a 12-game goal drought with his third of the season.
Fulp notched one more to tie the game, and in his first USHL game, Viktor Bovbel picked up his first in the USHL on a pretty centering feed from Adam Tisdale late in the second period to cut Madison's lead to one. It was part of a six goal second period, in which both squads picked up three goals apiece.
The Saints' power play, looking for a springboard to clearer skies, went 0-for-5 on the night, extending the streak to 2-for-51. The Saints' penalty kill kept the opposition off the board on four opportunities.
After the game, the Saints find themselves in a three-way tie for third in the Eastern Conference, but with an opportunity to close the gap, or widen the gap, with their competitors this weekend.
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. The Fighting Saints continued their success with a historic season in 2012 - 13, finishing with a franchise best 45 - 11â=80=908 record. The team claimed the Anderson Cup as the USHL's regular season champions for the first time in 30 years, and also earned the Clark Cup for second time in three seasons. In August 2013, the team took the Bronze Medal while representing the United States at the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia. The Fighting Saints have reached the Clark Cup Final three times in the past seven seasons, and has made it to the Clark Cup Playoffs for seven consecutive seasons. The club has produced a number of players that moved on to NCAA Division I hockey and have been drafted by NHL teams, including Zemgus Girgensons, Johnny Gaudreau, Mike Matheson and Matt Benning. 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 17â=80=90year NHL veteran, two-time Olympian, Stanley Cup champion, and member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
About Northern Lights Hockey, LLC: Northern Lights Hockey, LLC is the company that owns and operates the USHL franchise in Dubuque, Iowa. The owners of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level. Philip Falcone, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of HC2 Holdings, Inc. and former part owner of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, is the company's principal owner. The ownership group also includes Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Mark Falcone, and Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. Philip Falcone, Chiarelli and Kwong all played hockey together at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. The group also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D. Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company. Dr. Field has practiced orthopedic surgery for over 30 years and has been the driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. Dr. Field also owned the Dubuque Thunderbirds, the USA Hockey Tier III team that competed in the Central States Hockey League through the 2009-10 season.
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United States Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2018
- The MAN-Cinelli - Broetzman nets two; Callin, Mancinelli, Borchardt lit the lamp - Madison Capitols
- Capitols Outslug Saints to Stay Hot - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Gustaf Westlund Commits to Ohio State University - Lincoln Stars
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