USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints

Szmatula Scores Twice in 3-0 Win over Waterloo Saturday

Published on February 9, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release


DUBUQUE, Iowa - Mike Szmatula scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season and Arthur Brey stopped 18 shots as the Dubuque Fighting Saints captured a 3-0 win over Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup rival Waterloo Saturday evening. A regular season record crowd of 3,432 cheered the Fighting Saints to victory as Dubuque beat Waterloo for the first time this season.

Coming into Saturday's game, the Fighting Saints were 0-2-1 versus Waterloo this season and the Black Hawks had handed Dubuque its only home loss of the season in January. Dubuque righted those wrongs with the victory, and improved to 5-2-1 in Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup play.

The first period saw Brey and Waterloo goaltender Eamon McAdam turn aside several strong chances for both teams, including McAdam stoning Dylan Gambrell on a partial breakaway down the right wing. The game remained scoreless through the first period with Waterloo outshooting Dubuque 9-7.

The Fighting Saints opened the scoring in the game's second period with Szmatula notching his 30th goal of the season early in the period on the powerplay. Szmatula accepted a pass from Shane Sooth and fired a wrist shot that beat McAdam blockerside to make it 1-0. Szmatula is only the second Fighting Saint to score 30 goals in a season since the team's return to Dubuque in 2010. Johnny Gaudreau scored 36 times during the 2010-11 season for the Fighting Saints. Sooth and Quennevile assisted on the tally at 4:36.

Szmatula added to Dubuque's lead midway through the third period with his second goal of the game. Niklas Nevalainen fired a slapshot from the center of the blueline that McAdam stopped with his pad. Evan Janssen crashed the goal, and Szmatula joined the play in front and lifted a shot over a fallen McAdam to make it 2-0 at 10:28.

The Fighting Saints would top off the evening of scoring with a goal from Janssen at 13:01. Eric Freschi got the puck in front and rocketed a shot off of McAdam's blocker. The puck popped up high into the air on the rebound, and Janssen reached up, gloved it, dropped it to his stick, and shot it into the open net for his 8th goal of the season at 13:01. DiChaira and Freschi assisted the tally.

Dubuque went 1-for-4 on the powerplay, and held Waterloo to 0-for-4 on the man advantage. The Fighting Saints outshot Waterloo 24-18 in the win.

The Fighting Saints play a rare weekday home game, hosting Sioux City on Tuesday with Saints Valentine's Day. We honor love, cupid, and the upcoming holiday. The Fighting Saints are offering a special deal for couples wanting to celebrate Valentine's Day. For just $50, fans can score a deal that includes two corner tickets, two buffet meals in the DB&T Club, and a Fighting Saints fleece scarf for her. Tickets are available for all three contests in February by calling 563.583.6880 and online at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2013


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