Riders Snatch Victory Away in the Closing Hour
Published on February 4, 2017 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
Riese Zmolek scores with 0.9 seconds left in OT
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints battled back from two separate deficits in the third period, but were unable to get the extra point. Jacob Hamacher's last-minute power play goal forced overtime, but Riese Zmolek scored for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders with less than a second to go in the extra session, leading to the 4-3 win for the visitors at the Mystique Community Ice Center on Saturday.
Zmolek completed a three-point night with his second goal of the game at the 6:59 mark, no later than any overtime goal could ever be.
It took a late Tomas Vochozka holding penalty to give the Fighting Saints true life late in the third period. A set play off of the faceoff led to a slap pass to the middle of the ice where Hamacher redirected a Zach Solow pass in the middle of the ice through Drew DeRidder and in to force overtime.
CR made it 3-2 on a goal by Dalton Messina. Justin Cole drove the lane wide on the Saints defense and Messina deposited the rebound through Evan Fear to put the Riders up by one.
The Saints went into the second period down 2-1, and tied it up on a tally by Solow at 12:05. While racing up the ice on a 3-on-2 break, he ripped the puck over the shoulder of DeRidder, off the post and in, and right back out. The goal caused some confusion, but it was enough to stand for the tying tally.
The second period belonged to the RoughRiders, as they scored both goals in the frame, and outshot the Fighting Saints 8-4. Zmolek and Bobby Hampton both tallied for the Riders, who erased Taylor Brierley's first-period tally, and gave the visitors the lead.
Brierley finished off a rush off of the scoring opportunity generated from Austin Rueschhoff, as he smashed home the rebound off of DeRidder's pads. It was the former RoughRiders defenseman's second goal against his former club this season.
Fear finished the night with 11 saves in the overtime loss. DeRidder closed out the weekend sweep for CR with 31 saves on the night.
The Fighting Saints are back in action on Saturday, February 11 against the Madison Capitols at the Alliant Energy Center at 7:05 p.m.. They will return home to face the Capitols to complete the home-and-home series on Sunday, February 12 at 3:05 p.m. for Faith and Family Day. For tickets, call the box office at 563.583.6880, or by going to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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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.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2017
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- Postgame Recap: Hawks Tied at the Top - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Menace Steel Saturday - Chicago Steel
- Riders Snatch Victory Away in the Closing Hour - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Pillaged - Madison Capitols
- Stars Stun Lancers 4-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Black Hawks Sling Past Storm, 5-1 - Tri-City Storm
- Media Advisory Stars Respond, Beat Lancers 4-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Wrap up Home-And-Home with Lincoln - Omaha Lancers
- Game Tonight Lincoln Stars at Omaha Lancers - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Completes Three-Game Week at Waterloo - Tri-City Storm
- Waterloo Offense Excels - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Win Back-And-Forth Battle over Chicago 4-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Phantoms Creep Past Steel Friday - Chicago Steel
- Hamelin Plays Hero in OT - Omaha Lancers
- Rough Third Period - Madison Capitols
- Stars Fall to Lancers in OT, 2-1 - Lincoln Stars
- Third Period Effort Propels Saints to Win - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Buccaneers Fall to Dubuque 3-1 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Three in a Row - Green Bay Gamblers
- Stampede Overpowered by Sioux City - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Weissbach's Two-Goal Effort Not Enough in 7-4 Loss - Tri-City Storm
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