USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Fighting Saints Storm Back to End Streak

Published on October 14, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Down 2-0 and 3-2, the Dubuque Fighting Saints would not relent. For the third consecutive game, the Saints rallied back to tie the game two separate times, and ended the three-game losing streak with three goals in the third period, en route to a 5-3 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Friday night.

Colin Theisen notched two goals on the night, including the game-winning goal in the third period. His first goal of the night cut Sioux Falls' lead in half, and the dormant power play came alive as Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi found Theisen streaking to the net, and his deflection been Mikhail Berdin for the goal to make it 4-3.

The score was 3-2 heading into the third period, and it didn't take long for Zach Solow to tie the game at threes. His goal came at the 1:51 mark of the third period, as a great chance was turned aside by Berdin, but Dallas Gerads found his Conehead linemate cutting from the goal line to the circle, and his shot found a way through.

Regen Cavanagh added the empty netter to seal the game up.

Jaxon Nelson and Jason O'Neill struck back-to-back for the Stampede in the first period, leading to the third consecutive 2-0 deficit. Nelson's goal came at 4:40, and O'Neill's at 8:35. It took Theisen's first goal, a turnover at the offensive blue line, to cut the lead in half.

Berdin showed a willingness to play the puck, and just minutes into the second period, he played it right into the feet of R.J. Murphy, who collected the turnover and bashed the puck into the open cage to tie the game at three. Unfortunately for the Saints, that goal was responded to on the power play just three minutes later by Alex Stevens, who put The Herd up by one.

Mike Robinson made his first USHL start, and in the process, picked up his first win. His night featured a behind-the-back pad save on O'Neill, and a penalty shot stop on Matthew Quercia. The one-on-one opportunity was created by a late breakaway in the third period with a chance to tie, but it was unsuccessful for the Stampede.

The Coneheads line of Solow, Gerads and Theisen stole the show in Sioux Falls with a combined six points out of the 11 total scored by the Saints on this night.

88 minutes in penalties were doled out on Friday night, and each team scored a power play goal.

The Fighting Saints now head west to take the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday, October 15 at 7:05 p.m. Catch all of the action on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM, or on the USHL's streaming video provider, HockeyTV.

###

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 six 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 and Mike Matheson. 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. One of the most well-known alumni of the original Fighting Saints was Gary Suter, a 17â=80=90year NHL veteran, two-time Olympian, Stanley Cup champion, and member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

About Northern Lights Hockey, LLC

Northern Lights Hockey, LLC is the company that owns and operates the USHL franchise in Dubuque, Iowa. The owners of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level. Philip Falcone, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of HC2 Holdings, Inc. and former part owner of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, is the company's principal owner. The ownership group also includes Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Mark Falcone, and Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. Philip Falcone, Chiarelli and Kwong all played hockey together at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. The group also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D. Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company. Dr. Field has practiced orthopedic surgery for 30 years and has been the driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. Dr. Field also owned the Dubuque Thunderbirds, the USA Hockey Tier III team that competed in the Central States Hockey League through the 2009-10 Season.

Check out the Dubuque Fighting Saints Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United States Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central