: Saints Drop Decision to U18s
Published on March 17, 2017 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - The Dubuque Fighting Saints had the U18s deadlocked at 2 apiece, but it was the NTDP that pulled away with three unanswered goals. Team USA took the decision 5-2 at USA Hockey Arena on Friday night.
Nate Knoepke scored the game-winning goal 3:31 into the second period with a blast from the left point in the midst of a defensive breakdown by the Saints. USA also got a goal from Scott Reedy late in the middle frame to extend USA's lead to 4-2.
Dubuque had a tremendous opportunity following a cross checking major penalty taken by USA's Tyler Inamoto. However, the Saints could only muster one shot on goal, and the NTDP would end up with the only goal of the period, courtesy Josh Norris, at the 17:53 mark.
USA held the Saints to just 4 shots on goal in the final frame.
Quinn Preston started the scoring for the Saints with help from his new linemates, Cole Guttman and Jacob Hamacher. A tic-tac-toe passing play found Preston in the slot, and he whipped a shot into a wide open four-by-six to start the scoring at 7:36.
USA tallied twice in quick succession to go up by one, but those tallies were answered by a Zach Solow power play goal just 41 seconds after the go-ahead goal by Brady Tkachuk. It was Tkachuk that took the penalty that led to the power play chance. Guttman's initial opportunity went off the goal post, but the crazy carom went right on Solow's stick, and past Dylan St. Cyr to tie the game.
Josh Norris completed the scoring for USA late in the third period.
Dubuque forced USA into taking 49 minutes' worth of penalties, and seven power play opportunities came out of those infractions, but the Saints could only score on one of those opportunities. USA went 0-for-1 on the man advantage.
These two teams will go back at it again on Saturday, March 18 at 6:05 central at USA Hockey Arena. Join the action on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM, or on the USHL's streaming video provider, HockeyTV.
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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 - 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 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 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 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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