USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Primeau's Hatty Lifts Fighting Saints over the Herd

Published on February 24, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - Following a 7-6 tilt a night ago, defense was the name of the game through two periods until the floodgates opened in the third. However, it was the Dubuque Fighting Saints that held the fort in yet another one-goal game, the team's 25th of the season, and picked up a hat trick from Chayse Primeau in a 3-2 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

Primeau scored his first goal at the end of the second period, and his final two strikes at the beginning of the third period, proving to be the only scoring for the Fighting Saints. Thankfully, those were the only three goals they needed to stave off a push from the opposition, leading to the Saints taking sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference.

Primeau's third goal was the game-winner, and his best effort on the night. A misplay at the offensive blue line by the Stampede defense while on the power play set the veteran forward on his way in alone against Mikhail Berdin, and his shot eluded the blocker and sent the hats flying onto the ice.

He scored his first goal of the third period at the 1:20 mark after a jam play at the side of the net by Scott Corbett, who returned to the lineup following a game missed due to the flu, and Quinn Preston, and Primeau cashed in on the rebound to put the Saints up 2-0.

His first ended 39 minutes and 19 seconds of shutout hockey between the Fighting Saints and the Sioux Falls Stampede. Logan Pietila and Alex Steeves worked a give and go down the right wing on a 3-on-2 break and found Primeau breaking for the back post, and he tipped the puck past Berdin to give the Fighting Saints the first goal.

Sioux Falls made a big push starting with six minutes left in the third period as Berdin was pulled for the extra attacker on a power play opportunity. While the Herd did not score on the power play, the offensive momentum led to two unanswered goals. Adam Dawe deflected a shot from A.J. Villella at the point at the 14:06 mark to get the visitors on the scoreboard.

A Josh Maniscalco turnover at the defensive blueline following a failed clearing attempt let to a goal from one of the top defensive scorers in the league in Jack St. Ivany at 17:08, giving the Saints the edge that they have been used to all season long- one goal.

Those two goals were the only two blemishes on a tremendous effort from goaltender Cole Weaver, who made 24 saves on 26 opportunities on Saturday. He only faced three shots on goal in the second period, as the Saints outshot the Herd 37-24 for the game, but stopped 8 of 10 shots in the third period, with several of them being top-grade scoring chances.

Weaver picked up his 12th win in a Fighting Saints uniform, and his third win in the last five games.

Primeau missed the empty net in the closing seconds of the game, but along with Preston, hemming the puck in the offensive zone, kept Sioux Falls off the board to close out the game, sealing the victory for the Saints and taking sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Fighting Saints are back in action Friday, March 2 in Muskegon to take on the Lumberjacks. Check out all of the action on Dubuque's Super Hits 106.1 FM, or on the USHL's streaming video provider, HockeyTV.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2018


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