USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Release 30-Man Roster and Affiliates

Published on September 1, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints have released the 30-man roster and affiliate list for the upcoming 2016-17 season, presented by American Trust. The organization is in pursuit of its seventh consecutive playoff berth, and its sixth Clark Cup championship. The roster will eventually be trimmed down to 23 before the team's first regular season game on September 24 in Cedar Rapids.

Eight players return from last season's Eastern Conference Championship squad, including the entirety of the "Coneheads" line- Dallas Gerads, Zach Solow and Colin Theisen. Forwards Justin Bofshever and Cole Guttman, defensemen Joey Keane and Carson Vance, and goaltender Jaxon Castor, round out the returners from last season.

Two defensemen named to the 30-man roster have already been drafted by NHL clubs, including Casey Staum, who was selected by the Montreal Canadiens, and Patrick Kudla, who got the call from the Arizona Coyotes during the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, N.Y. The blue line will also receive a European flair with Erik Ullman and Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi in the fold battling for spots.

It will be a completely different look for the forward group, with 12 brand-new forwards in camp. One of them, John Wojciechowski, has prior USHL experience with the Omaha Lancers. Otherwise, eight players received significant North American Hockey League (NAHL) experience to bolster their junior hockey resume en route to trying to make the final cut.

Generating offense was no problem for head coach/GM Jason Lammers' up-tempo system, as the Saints led the league in goals for (209) last year. They were the only team that scored more than 200 goals. Only one player scored more than 20 goals, and eight other players hit double digits.

The battle in the crease will be between the incumbent Castor, and newcomer Mike Robinson, who was selected by the Fighting Saints in the second round of the Phase II Draft in May. Castor finished the 2015-16 campaign by winning four of his last six starts behind Hunter Miska, who carried most of the load in goal. Robinson, an NHL prospect, will be pushing for time after coming off of an injury last season with the Boston Jr. Bruins.

The unofficial start to preseason is the Fighting Saints Fan Fest on Saturday, September 3 at 1:30 p.m. Catch the new team in action in a free intersquad game at Our House and meet the players afterwards. Preseason will officially begin on September 7 at 7:05 p.m. as the Chicago Steel come to town. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 563.583.6880, or by going online to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 1, 2016


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