USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Hawks Drop Saints in Shootout Saturday, Beat Dubuque 4-3

Published on March 9, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - For the third straight game at home the Dubuque Fighting Saints took the game to a shootout, only to come out on the wrong end of things. The Waterloo Black Hawks topped the Dubuque 4-3 Saturday evening in front of 3,304 fans at the Mystique Community Ice Center. The Black Hawks Zach Stepan scored at 15:57 of the third period on the powerplay to even the game at 3-3, and Waterloo won the shootout 2-1 to stay in front of Dubuque in the Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup standings.

The game was as advertised with a first period that saw a pair of goals for the Fighting Saints, a pair of fights, and end-to-end rushes for both teams. Matt Benning scored for the second straight night for Dubuque only 3:50 into the game. Dubuque's Eric Freschi found Mike Szmatula along the left wing, and the Fighting Saints top scorer threw the puck to the net. The shot was kicked out by Waterloo goalie Eamon McAdam, but the puck popped back to Benning at the right point. He fired a slapshot that McAdam couldn't get to for his 9th goal of the season to make it 1-0 Dubuque.

Dubuque killed off a 5-on-3 for nearly two minutes, led by three blocks from Kyle McKenzie who was stunned after the first shot hit him in the foot. Dubuque used the momentum from this and would add to its lead later in the first period with a tally credited to Mike Szmatula for his team leading 34th goal of the year at 9:38. A.J. Fossen pushed the puck to Szmatula who fired a pass towards the goal. Joe Manno was crashing the net, and the puck deflected off a Black Hawk defender and past McAdam to make it 2-0 Dubuque. McAdam argued that Manno kicked the puck in, but the goal stood.

Waterloo struck a minute later on a goal from blueliner Victor Newell from the blueline. The shot through traffic found its way past Dubuque goalie Christian Frey's blocker to cut Dubuque's lead to 2-1.

In the second period, the two teams traded goals. Celebrating his 19thBirthday, number 19 lit the lamp for Dubuque. Peter Quenneville struck with Dubuque on a five-minute major powerplay with Taylor Cammarata ejected for slashing. Quenneville let a wrist shot go from the right side half boards that snuck through McAdam. The goal was assisted by Szmatula and Jeff Taylor, and extended the lead to two.

Waterloo would add a powerplay goal to cut the lead back to one off the stick of Justin Kloos. The sniper got the puck on the left wing and fired a shot past the outstretched Frey to make it 3-2 heading into the third period.

The only goal of the third period came from Stepan who scored at 15:57 on the powerplay. Stepan got a pass from behind the goal and blasted a shot over Frey's blocker to make it 3-3. Dubuque got a late powerplay following this, but could not convert and the game went to overtime, and eventually a shootout.

Waterloo got a goal in round one of the shootout from Stepan, and McAdam denied A.J. Fossen's cut back move. After both Justin Kloos and Sooth failed to score, Frey denied J.T. Stenglein to send it to a must score situation for Dubuque. Quenneville shot for Dubuque and fired a fake slapshot, got McAdam to bite with a pokecheck, and shot the puck in fivehole to extend the shootout to round four. Mike Huntebrinker scored the shootout winner for Waterloo next, and Szmatula was denied by McAdam as Waterloo earned the extra point.

Next week is a busy one for the Dubuque Fighting Saints as they play three games in three nights. Thursday the Fighting Saints battle with the Youngstown Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. That evening is Zombieland: Night for the Undead, and fans are encouraged to dress up in their best zombie attire. Friday, Dubuque visits Sioux City and then returns home on Saturday for a Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup matchup with Cedar Rapids at 7:05 p.m. That game will be televised on KCRG 9.2 and is Irish Night, presented by O'Toole Office Supply. The first 1,000 fans receive Irish Hand Clappers. Tickets to both games next week are available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2013


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