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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Saints End Regular Season with 7-4 Loss at Team USA Saturday

April 5, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


ANN ARBOR, MI- The Dubuque Fighting Saints came up empty handed on a three game road trip to end the regular season. Dubuque fell in the final game of the 2013-2014 regular season, 7-4 to Team USA U-17 Saturday in Ann Arbor. Dubuque finishes the regular season at 33-23-4 and will begin play in the 2014 Clark Cup playoffs next Friday in a best-of-5 series with Cedar Rapids.

Dubuque saw Team USA U-17 strike first only 4:02 into the game. Christian Fischer scored on an odd-man rush, making a move around Fighting Saints goaltender Ben Johansson and firing a shot into the empty net to make it 1-0.

Following the goal, Dubuque Head Coach Matt Shaw took his timeout to regain his team's composure. Dubuque responded with a pair of goals in the first period. On the powerplay, Dylan Gambrell tied the game for Dubuque at 8:13. Keegan Ford sent a pass to Gambrell who broke up ice. He made a move around a defender, cut in down the right wing, and fired a wrist shot that rang the post and rolled over the goal line.

The Fighting Saints failed to score on their second powerplay of the period, but struck directly following the USA player returning to the ice. Max McHugh took a shot that hit the post, but rolled into the crease and not into the net. Dubuque battled for the rebound, and Shane Eiserman shoveled a shot over the goal line to make it 2-1 Dubuque at 19:15.

Dubuque carried the play early in the second period, but it would be Team USA that would jump out to a lead with three straight goals. Nick Boka joined the play from the blueline and beat Johansson with a shot blocker side to make it 2-2 at 10:21. Just 1:02 later, Brendan Warren sent a long pass to Ryan Wagner who streaked in on a breakaway. He got Johansson to attempt a pokecheck and slid the puck five-hole for the goal to make it 3-1 Team USA at 11:23.

Less than four minutes later, it was Warren's turn to score. After Dubuque failed to score on the powerplay, Warren broke up ice on a two-on-one rush. He kept the puck for himself and fired a wrist shot that beat Johansson glove side to make it 4-2 Team USA U-17.

Dubuque was able to get back on track before the period ended on a Seamus Malone goal. The Dubuque forward got a pass from Jacob Benson. He made a move around goaltender Blake Weyrick, pulling the netminder out of position. Malone then cut the puck around the net and tucked a wraparound into the goal for his 23rd tally of the season to make it 4-2 USA at 17:04.

With just seconds remaining in the period, Dubuque's Johansson made an incredible save to keep it a one-goal game. Team USA broke up ice on an odd-man rush. The puck was thrown from the left wing side to the front of the goal. Team USA had a wide open net with Johansson dropping to the ice on the far post, and Jeremey Bracco's shot was fired for a sure goal. The goal light came on anticipating the goal, but out of no-where came the goal stick of Johansson to get a piece of the puck and keep it 4-3.

In the third period Team USA added three more goals en route to the win. Zach Werenski scored only 37 seconds into the frame on a wraparound to make it 5-3. Karson Kuhlman would respond for Dubuque, catching Team USA in a bad line change, for his 25th goal of the year at 6:23.

With a 5-4 lead, USA's Fischer scored his second goal of the game, jamming the front of the net, and knocking in a rebound off a Warren shot to make it 6-4 USA at 9:37. Casey Fitzgerald would add an empty net goal for Team USA with 55 seconds left to secure the win.

The win was Team USA U-17's third over Dubuque on the season. Warren had a goal and three assists in the victory. Dubuque was outshot 44-27.

The 2014 Clark Cup Playoffs open next week for the Fighting Saints. The Eastern Conference Semifinals best-of-five series versus Cedar Rapids begins on Friday, April 11 in Cedar Rapids. Game 2 is Saturday, April 12 in Cedar Rapids. Dubuque will host the RoughRiders on Friday, April 18 at 7:35 p.m. at the Mystique Community Ice Center for Game 3. If necessary, Game 4 will be played in Dubuque on Saturday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. If needed, a deciding Game 5 would be on Monday, April 21 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Tickets to both Dubuque home games are now available by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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