USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Saints as Sharp as Their Looks in 5-2 Win over USA

Published on December 14, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque Fighting Saints' sharp looks matched their performance Friday night. Peter Quenneville scored a pair of goals and Shane Sooth collected four points as Dubuque tallied a 5-2 win over Team USA U-18 in front of 2,365 at the Mystique Community Ice Center. The win was the Fighting Saints 20th of the season, and improved the team to a perfect 13-0-0 at home.

Friday's game marked the debut of the Fighting Saints new third jerseys that were unveiled when the team took the ice just prior to puck drop. The vintage style, cream color jerseys are accented with scarlet red and grey, and feature a lace-up collar. The logo featured on the crest is the Fighting Saints alternate logo that features a winged sword, with the words "Fighting Saints" displayed prominently on a banner draped around the base of the sword. The shoulder patch is a homage to the founder of The Key City, as featured is Julian Dubuque's grave. The grave is displayed in cream and white.

In addition to the excitement of the new jerseys were the evening's festivities. The night was the 3rd Annual Teddy Bear Toss, presented by Queen B Radio. Santa was also in attendance for the game and sang the National Anthem and greeted children. Fans were encouraged to throw teddy bears brought to the arena onto the ice after the Fighting Saints first goal for Toys for Toys.

The game opened with the teddy bears flying early, but also prematurely. Just 2:23 into the game, Jarrid Privitera and Shane Sooth rushed in to the Team USA zone on a two-on-one. Sooth appeared to score and the goal horn sounded and the celebration started, but referee Cameron Voss waived off the goal as the puck did not enter the net, only hitting the post. With the apparent goal however, the teddy bears rained down. After a delay to clean them up, fans were informed the goal didn't count, and play resumed with the game scoreless.

Mike Szmatula would strike for three points on the evening and opened the scoring for the Fighting Saints at 10:25. Szmatula, and the Fighting Saints drove the puck to the net and jammed away at rebounds, before Szmatula got open on the left wing and slid the puck under USA goalie Thatcher Demko to make it 1-0.

After Evan Allen scored to tie the game 1-1 at 13:32 on a fluky play that eluded Dubuque goalie Connor Girard who was making his second straight start in goal. The Fighting Saints retook the lead on the powerplay goal at 14:23. Beautiful passing saw Niklas Nevalainen collect his second goal of the season. The defenseman snuck in on the back door and tapped in a Sooth pass for the goal to make it 2-1.

Sooth and Quenneville would both strike for goals in the game's second frame. Sooth scored the third goal on a nearly identical two-on-one with Privitiera. This time the puck hit twine rather than iron for the goal at 14:23. Quenneville would add a powerplay goal at 10:30, knocking in a rebound off a Keegan Ford point shot to make it 4-1. USA would score with 3.6 seconds left as Anthony Louis fired a shot from an extreme angle that handcuffed and found its way into the net to end the second frame at 4-2.

Quenneville would add the only goal of the third period, finishing off a wonderful tic-tac-toe passing play between Szmatula and Sooth. Quenneville found himself wide open on the left side of the ice and one-timed a pass in for the powerplay goal late in the third. Girard faced a barrage of shots in the games final minutes but kept the puck out, and registered 20 saves to earn the win. The Fighting Saints outshot Team USA 28-22 and were 3-for-5 on the powerplay.

Dubuque hosts the Chicago Steel tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. and the Fighting Saints will once again wear their new third jerseys. Tomorrow night is "The Last Saints Game Ever." Playing off the Mayan theory that the world will end December 21, the Fighting Saints are throwing one last bash...just in case of the worst. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or by visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2012


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