USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Dubuque sweeps season series with Bloomington with win Friday night

February 27, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, IA-Nathan Sucese had a hat trick and the Dubuque Fighting Saints earned the sweep of the season series over the Bloomington Thunder with a 5-2 victory Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center. Jacob Nehama stopped 30 shots for the Fighting Saints to earn his 20th win of the season, and Dubuque won for the fourth time against expansion Thunder this season. Dubuque has won 9 of their last 10 games on home ice.

It took a few minutes for Dubuque to get the offensive started but the Fighting Saints opened the scoring on their first shot of the game at 8:33. Brett Boeing scored his 23rd goal of the season on the power play to earn Dubuque a 1-0 lead. Boeing got a pass from defender Wyatt Ege and cut to the high slot. He fired a shot along the ice that snuck under the pad of Bloomington goaltender Hayden Lavigne.

The Fighting Saints added to their lead three minute later on a tally from Brian Bowen courtesy of a large rebound. Keegan Ford fired a shot from the right point that bounced off the right pad of Lavigne right to Bowen. He deposited the rebound for his 12th goal of the season. The goal chased Lavigne as Logan Halladay replaced him for the Thunder.

It didn't take long for Dubuque to add to its lead in the second period. Sucese scored his first of three goals on a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play. Seamus Malone and Jacob Benson assisted, and Sucese finished the play, tapping in the puck from the left doorstep only 59 seconds into the period.

After Matt Mendelson deflected in a Nikolas Kolberstein shot past Nehama for Bloomington's first goal of the game at 6:46 of the second period, Sucese struck again to return Dubuque's lead to two goals. With Dubuque on the power play, Bowen worked the puck to Sucese in the low slot. The Dubuque forward pulled back and hoisted a backhander over Halladay's glove to give Dubuque a 4-2 lead at 13:54.

Jason Kalinowski scored his first goal of the season for Bloomington only 3:25 into the third period, redirecting a point shot to make the score 4-2 Dubuque. The Thunder continued to press, and had a goal that would have cut the lead to just one disallowed as it was knocked into the net with a hand. Nehama continued to deny Bloomington's opportunities with several strong saves in the closing minutes to keep the score at 4-2.

Sucese would finish the hat trick with an unassisted empty net goal with less than 40 seconds to play. The tally was his 10th goal of the season.

Dubuque improved to 27-13-4 and with Muskegon's loss, is three points ahead of the Lumberjacks for 3rd Place in the Eastern Conference.

Dubuque is back in action tomorrow night for BLACKOUT Game presented by Truck Country. Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup rival Waterloo visits Dubuque for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff. The game will be televised live on KCRG 9.2, and the Fighting Saints will be wearing special black jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game with all proceeds going to the Dubuque Youth Hockey Association. Tickets are available, but seating is limited as a large crowd is expected. To order, fans should call 563.583.6880 or visit DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2015


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