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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Capture Anderson Cup Friday Night

April 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - For the first time in thirty years, the Anderson Cup has returned to the Key City. The Dubuque Fighting Saints fell 4-3 Friday night to Waterloo in a shootout, but with the Sioux Falls dropping a contest at Fargo, and Dubuque earning a point in the standings, the Fighting Saints captured the United States Hockey League regular season championship. Dubuque won the Anderson Cup for the first time since the 1982-83 season, and for only the third time in franchise history. A point in the standings also secured the Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup title for a second straight season.

The game was full of odd bounces and the Fighting Saints took advantage in the first period. Dubuque elated a sold out crowd of 3,259 with a powerplay goal off the stick of John Stevens at 10:48 of the first period. Dubuque's Mike Downing dumped the puck in, and as it rimmed around the boards, it hit a divider on the glass and deflected in front of the goal. Waterloo netminder Cal Petersen had gone behind the net to play the puck, and Stevens scored into an empty goal to make it 1-0 Dubuque.

The Hawks would tie the game late in the first period on a deflection goal from Mike Huntebrinker. A wrist shot from the right point from Brandon Salerno was tipped in front by Huntebrinker past Dubuque goalie Arthur Brey's pad to send the two teams into the first intermission tied at one.

The second period opened with Waterloo capitalizing off their late goal and adding an early strike. Taylor Cammarata tallied only 32 seconds into the frame with a goal on a shot from the high slot. Cammarata walked into the middle of the ice and blasted a shot past Brey's blocker to make it 2-1 Waterloo.

The Fighting Saints would tie the game on the powerplay at 8:59 of the second period on a goal by Jeff Taylor. The blueliner slid down low and knocked in a shot from the right side doorstep to make it 2-2. Eric Freschi and Frankie DiChiara assisted on the tally.

Waterloo added a late goal at 18:12 on a lucky bounce of their own. J.T. Stenglein's shot went wide of the goal, but the puck hopped in front off the end boards to Vince Hinostroza who fired the puck past an outstretched Brey to make it 3-2 Waterloo.

In the third period the Fighting Saints continued to press, but Petersen denied several point blank opportunities. His saves were not enough to give Waterloo the regulation win however as Dylan Gambrell was able to pounce on a rebound at 17:11 to tie the game for the Fighting Saints. Petersen denied Mike Szmatula's shot from the slot, but the rebound sat in the crease and Gambrell snuck a quick backhander past Petersen for his seventh goal of the season to tie the game at three and send the contest to overtime.

Both teams failed to strike in the extra session and Waterloo's Zach Stepan scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Hawks the extra point. Petersen denied Peter Quenneville, John Stevens, and Shane Sooth on their attempts.

The 2012-13 Fighting Saints are the third team in Dubuque history to capture the Anderson Cup. In the team's first season in 1980-81, Dubuque earned the title under coach Jack Barzee, and also was victorious in 1982-83. The Anderson Cup stands at nearly five feet tall, and is named after Harold Anderson, who was helped form the Midwest Junior Hockey League that eventually became the USHL.

Dubuque also earned the Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup for a second straight season. The trophy is awarded to the top team in Eastern Iowa in a head-to-head rivalry series with Dubuque, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids. The Fighting Saints finished with a 10-3-3 record versus their rivals, including posting a perfect 8-0-0 mark against Cedar Rapids.

Dubuque heads on the road for a game tomorrow at Sioux Falls, and finishes the regular season next weekend with games at Omaha and Des Moines. The Fighting Saints will open play in the 2013 Clark Cup Semifinals on April 17 with a best-of-five series versus the Eastern Conference team that finishes fourth in the standings. Game dates, times, and locations are to be determined, and a set schedule will be released as soon as the Fighting Saints opponent and the format of the series has been decided. With tonight's result, the Fighting Saints have guaranteed home ice advance throughout the Clark Cup playoffs. "Pay as We Play" ticket packages are now available for the 2013 Clark Cup Playoffs. Fans can guarantee their seat to all home playoff games to help cheer on the Fighting Saints in their pursuit of the Clark Cup. Fans can purchase this package by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFIghtingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2013


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