USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Beat Tri-City 4-1 on Opening Night

Published on September 29, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints started the 2012-13 season the right note, capturing a 4-1 victory over the Tri-City Storm on Opening Night in front of 2,183 fans at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

Mike Szmatula led the way for Dubuque with a pair of goals. Szmatula, who was the Most Valuable Player last season for Summerside in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, continued his scoring touch in his first game in the USHL, including tallying the eventual game winner.

A flurry in the second period opened the scoring of Friday night's game. After the two teams skated to a scoreless tie through one period of play, the pace picked up with a fast and furious first few minutes of the second frame. Dubuque scored first, as John Stevens capitalized on a Tri-City turnover. The puck popped to Jarrid Privitera who fed Stevens with a great pass, and Stevens blasted a low wrist-shot blocker side to give Dubuque the 1-0 lead. That advantage lasted only a minute as the Storm bounced right back, catching Dubuque's defense up ice, and Trevor Moore scored on a two-on-one from the right side of the ice to tie the game at one.

Smaztula responded with a goal of his own less than a minute later, directing a rebound off a Mike Downing shot through the legs of goalie Christian Frey to regain Dubuque the lead, all before the Fighting Saint's first goal could even be announced over the public address system.

The Fighting Saints would add a pair of goals in the third period to cap off the victory. Szmatula added insurance when on the penalty kill stole he the puck at the Tri-City blueline, skated in alone on Frey, firing a shot blocker side off the far goal post to notch the shorthanded goal to give Dubuque a 3-1 advantage. The Storm, who managed to comeback late on the Fighting Saints at the USHL Fall Classic, scoring a goal to tie the game with less than a second left, were unable to do so on this night, as Matt Benning added an empty net goal to seal the win for Dubuque. Benning was attempting to clear the puck off the glass in his own zone when he scored. The puck banked off the glass and rolled on its edge, curving into the empty net for Benning's first goal of the season.

Prior to the game, fans enjoyed a pregame tailgate outside the Mystique Community Ice Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event included food and drinks, a bags tournament, family-friendly fun, and live music from Velkroe Sneker.**

Dubuque's next game is on the road at Green Bay at 7:05 p.m on Friday, October 5. The Fighting Saints return home on Saturday, October 6 for a contest with the Fargo Force. The game is slated for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop at Mystique Community Ice Center. Tickets are available at DubuqueFightingSaints.com and by calling 563.583.6880.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2012


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