USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Break Away in the Third, Beat Phantoms

Published on January 15, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - In a celebration of excellence, the Fighting Saints excelled in the third period. The team never trailed, and pulled away in the third period by outshooting the Youngstown Phantoms 14-1 in the final frame, and by topping them 3-1 on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

At the tail end of a Fighting Saints penalty early in the third period, Taylor Schneider broke ahead on a Jacob Semik area pass, broke around the defense, and slipped a backhander five hole through Youngstown goaltender Ivan Prosvetov. The goal put the Fighting Saints ahead at the beginning of the third, and for good. It was the new Bowling Green State University commit's second goal of the season.

Fellow college committee Cole Weaver, who got the start in net, and just committed to Niagara University on Wednesday, held the fort with a 16 save performance. It was his seventh win of the season. He made several key stops in the second period, which was Youngstown's best effort.

The Phantoms got on the board to tie the game in the second period, as Chase Gresock took the feed from Jake Gingell and Mike Regush, and at 16:38, evened the score at one. It was Weaver's only blemish on the night.

Alex Steeves added the empty netter to salt the game away at the 19:38 mark of the third following a Youngstown turnover in the neutral zone with Prosvetov sent to the bench for the extra attacker. The Phantoms went to the final stages of the game shorthanded, courtesy of a Youngstown bench minor penalty. The Saints held on for the victory.

Quinn Preston started the scoring for the Saints at the 3:32 mark of the first period. Gianfranco Cassaro's shot was blocked at the left point by Preston, who darted ahead unabated, and rifled his 12th goal of the season through Prosvetov to put the Saints up 1-0. The lead held for 29 minutes.

Neither team scored on the power play, though 48 minutes in penalties were dished out in total.

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 seven seasons, and has made it to the Clark Cup Playoffs for seven consecutive 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, Mike Matheson and Matt Benning. 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.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2018


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