Montgomery Named USHL General Manager of the Year
Published on May 23, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa- Head Coach and General Manager Jim Montgomery's tenure with the Dubuque Fighting Saints might be coming to an end, but the two-time Clark Cup Champion continues to earn league honors. For the second time in three years, Montgomery has been named the USHL's General Manager of the Year, as determined by a vote of USHL coaches and general managers.
Montgomery, who is leaving Dubuque after three seasons to become the Head Coach at the University of Denver, was the architect of the most successful season in team history. The Fighting Saints posted a 45-11-8 record and earned a league best 98 points in the standings to capture the Anderson Cup for the first time in 30 years. Dubuque went 25-3-4 at the Mystique Community Ice Center, the most home victories in team history and tying a USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present) mark for wins on home ice. Dubuque would also go on to win the Clark Cup in the postseason, the second time in three years under Montgomery that they have won the title.
Dubuque entered the season with many questions after losing many key parts including leading scorer Zemgus Girgensons, top defenseman Mike Matheson and goaltender Matt Morris, but the new crop of Fighting Saints flourished under Montgomery.
When top NHL draft pick and Fighting Saints prospect Mark Jankowski decided to go to Providence College instead of play in Dubuque, Montgomery and his staff added scoring punch by bringing in Mike Szmatula. The moved proved to be critical as Szmatula led the team in points and was the Clark Cup Playoff MVP.
With the strength of the initial roster iced by the Fighting Saints, Dubuque made minimal roster moves during the regular season. However, Montgomery brought in several players during the 2012-2013 campaign that played large roles in the Clark Cup run. Forward Joe Manno was added in December from Northeastern University and notched 22 points in 35 games, and meshed with linemates Jarrid Privitera and Evan Janssen to form a unit that proved deadly in the postseason. Montgomery brought in goaltender Christian Frey who proved to be a solid option in net and went 7-2-0 with a 2.54 GAA. Forward Karson Kuhlman was also moved up from the affiliate list late in the season and broke out in the playoffs with four goals, and looks to be a key part of the Fighting Saints future.
Five players have been selected in the NHL Draft after playing under Montgomery in Dubuque, and six players with ties to Dubuque were selected in the 2012 NHL Draft including Girgensons, now with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, and Matheson of Boston College, both taken in the first round. Four players from the 2012-2013 Fighting Saints (Mike Downing, Peter Quenneville, John Stevens, and Frankie DiChiara) appeared on the NHL Central Scouting final ranking for the 2013 NHL Draft. This season 18 of the 23 players on Dubuque's roster have accepted NCAA D-I scholarships.
Over three seasons in the USHL, Montgomery compiled a 118-45-21 record, a .698 winning percentage. A search for his successor is underway.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2013
- Jay Varady Named Head Coach and General Manager of Musketeers - Sioux City Musketeers
- Black Hawks Prepare for NHL Combine - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Montgomery Named USHL General Manager of the Year - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Jim Montgomery Recognized as USHL General Manager of the Year - USHL
- Cary Eades Named USHL Coach of the Year - USHL
- Cary Eades Named USHL Coach of the Year - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Musketeers Affiliate Meirs Moore Commits to RPI for 2014 - Sioux City Musketeers
- Cangelosi Named to All-USHL 2nd Team - Youngstown Phantoms
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