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USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Stampede Top Saints, 4-3, in Battle of the USHL's

April 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota- A battle of the two powerhouses in the United States Hockey League went the way of the Sioux Falls Stampede Saturday night. The Stampede broke out of a three game funk to beat the visiting Dubuque Fighting Saints for the third time this season with a 4-3 decision at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Fighting Saints, the top team in the Eastern Conference and Anderson Cup Champions, finished the season 0-2-1 versus the Western Conference Champion Stampede.

The Stampede jumped out to a fast start with a pair of goals in the first period. Sioux Falls scored first on a mad scramble in front of Dubuque goaltender Arthur Brey. All five players from both teams jammed towards the Fighting Saints goal as the puck rattled around in the slot. It finally came lose to Kyle Schempp who pushed a shot that squeaked through Brey's legs at 8:32 to make it 1-0 Stampede. The goal was Schempp's 10th tally of the season and was assisted by Tony Calderone.

Dubuque had three powerplays in the first period and not only could they not convert, they allowed a shorthanded goal as well. Todd Skiriving scored for the fifth time against Dubuque this season at 10:48 mark of the first period to make it 2-0 Stampede. A miscommunication at the blueline in the offensive zone between a pair of Fighting Saints allowed the puck to float to the middle of the ice where Skirving collected the puck, dashed in on a breakaway, and fired a shot over Brey's blocker for his 22nd goal of the season.

Dubuque would cut the lead in half on a goal from Joe Manno at the 16:04 mark. Manno struck with his 10th goal of the year on a wraparound from the right side of the goal. Manno tucked the puck in front and it ricocheted off a Sioux Falls defender and past Stampede goalie Charlie Lindgren to make it 2-1 Sioux Falls. Evan Janssen has the lone assist on Manno's goal.

In the second period, the two teams traded a pair of goals. Schempp scored early in the period for his second strike of the game to put Sioux Falls back up by two goals at 2:05. Schmepp was alone in front and directed a shot on goal that Brey stopped but he pounced on the rebound and scored to make it 3-1 Sioux Falls.

Dubuque's line of Jarrid Privitera, Evan Janssen, and Joe Manno continued its success and notched a pair of goals only 23 seconds apart to tie the game at three. The first goal was highly contested by the crowd at the Sioux Falls Arena and the Sioux Falls coaching staff. Manno made a power move towards the goal from the right wing and was crosschecked from behind into the Stampede goaltender. With Lindgren on the ice, Privitera flipped the puck over the fallen goaltender to make it 3-2. Just second later, Dubuque drove the puck over the blueline and Manno fired a shot on Lindgren's pads. Janssen collected the rebound and fired it past Lindgren's glove into the open goal to make it 3-3 at 15:29 of the second period.

Sioux Falls swung the momentum back its way with a goal with only two minutes remaining in the second period off the stick of Zeb Knutson. The forward had a partial break into the Dubuque zone down the left wing and fired a straight shot that beat Brey over the glove to put Sioux Falls back up by one on what proved to be the game-winning goal.

The third period saw no scoring as the Stampede held on despite Dubuque pulling Brey for the extra attacker. The Fighting Saints fell to 43-11-8 on the season with the loss. Brey kicked aside 36 shots in the losing effort for Dubuque. The Stampede were 0-for-2 on the powerplay, while Dubuque went 0-for-4 on the evening with the man-advantage.

The Fighting Saints finish the regular season next weekend with games at Omaha and Des Moines. The Fighting Saints will open play in the 2013 Clark Cup Semifinals on April 17 with a best-of-five series versus the Eastern Conference team that finishes fourth in the standings. Game dates, times, and locations are to be determined, and a set schedule will be released as soon as the Fighting Saints opponent and the format of the series has been decided. "Pay as We Play" ticket packages are now available for the 2013 Clark Cup Playoffs. Fans can guarantee their seat to all home playoff games to help cheer on the Fighting Saints in their pursuit of the Clark Cup. Fans can purchase this package by calling 563.583.6880 or online at DubuqueFIghtingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2013


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