Fighting Five: Saints Host Black Hawks on Friday Night
April 12, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, IA - The Dubuque Fighting Saints (40-12-3-5, 88 pts) host the Waterloo Black Hawks (35-24-0-1, 71 pts) with a chance to clinch the Cowbell Cup on Friday night.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Cowbell Cup
Dubuque sits at a magic number of three to clinch its fifth-consecutive Cowbell Cup title. Of the 12 total Cowbell Cups awarded, the Fighting Saints have won seven times.
With a regulation win on Friday, the Fighting Saints clinch their record fifth-straight title. The Saints have 29 points in the Cowbell Cup standings, while Waterloo has 28 with two games remaining each.
2. Swarming Saints
Beckett Hendrickson, Juraj Pekarcik and Erik Pa°hlsson have torched opposing defenses since joining as a line 10 games ago. The trio has combined for 41 points since being placed on the same line together on March 15 at Muskegon.
During those 10 games, Hendrickson has six goals to lead the line, while his linemates have a one-point edge on him with 14 each. Pa°hlsson has four goals and 10 assists and Pekarcik has pair of goals and 12 assists.
3. Dubuque Defends
Joona Vaèisaènen was named USHL Defenseman of the Week, the third Saint in as many weeks to take the honor. Fisher Scott and Lucas St. Louis each earned the award the previous two weeks for the Saints blue line.
Vaèisaènen has 39 points this season and is one point from becoming the Fighting Saints third Tier-I defenseman to score 40 points in a season.
4. Two To Go
The Saints wrap up the regular season with their final two games this weekend, completing a historic regular season in Fighting Saints history.
The 2023-24 Fighting Saints will finish as the third team in Tier-I team history to clinch the top seed in their conference as well as win 40-or-more games. Noah Powell also broke the record for goals scored in a single-season, entering the final weekend with 40 goals to tie for the league lead.
5. Watching Waterloo
The Saints shutout the Black Hawks 2-0 on April 2 to clinch the top-seed in the Eastern Con- ference, while Dubuque holds the edge over Cedar Rapids in the season series.
The Black Hawks entered that matchup with the Saints in a scoring drought, but bounced back last weekend following their loss to Dubuque. In two wins last weekend over Omaha and Cedar Rapids, the Hawks combined for 15 goals and allowed just two.
Friday's game begins at 7:05 p.m. CDT at ImOn Arena and tickets can be found here. The game can be found on Eagle 102.3 and FloHockey.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2024
- Steel Fall 7-3 to Lumberjacks - Chicago Steel
- Saints Clinch Cowbell Cup Title With Win Over Hawks - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Falls to Lancers on Fan Appreciation Night - Tri-City Storm
- Hawks Defeated in Dubuque - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Battles with Force But Comes up Short - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Alumnus Macklin Celebrini Wins Hobey Baker Memorial Award - Chicago Steel
- Celebrini Wins 2024 Hobey Baker Award - USHL
- Madison to Finish Season against Green Bay - Madison Capitols
- Gameday Preview - Lincoln Stars
- Fighting Five: Saints Host Black Hawks on Friday Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Set for Fan Appreciation Night at Viaero Center - Tri-City Storm
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