Fighting Saints Acquire Keenan Suthers
December 23, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
Gargantuan forward joins Fighting Saints' existing scoring depth
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints have acquired forward Keenan Suthers (Macomb, Mich./St. Lawrence University) from the Muskegon Lumberjacks, head coach/GM Jason Lammers announced Friday.
Suthers, a 6'7" forward, has played for the U.S. National Team Development Program at both the U17 and U18 levels, the Lumberjacks, and now the Dubuque Fighting Saints. At the USHL level, he has scored 7 goals and 12 assists in 86 games. He finished last season ranked 119th on NHL Central Scouting's final draft list among North American skaters.
"We're ecstatic that we're able to add a player of Keenan's caliber to our organization and we really think that he will be an important part of our group moving forward in terms of pursuing our team goals," Lammers said.
As a corresponding move, defenseman Jacob Semik has been moved to the affiliate list, and will remain eligible to play for the Fighting Saints.
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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 45-11-8 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 six 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 and Mike Matheson. 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 17year 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 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 December 23, 2016
- Fighting Saints Acquire Keenan Suthers - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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