FIGHTING SAINTS AND DYHA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Press Release

Dubuque’s traveling youth hockey teams will be known as the Junior Saints

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Fighting Saints and the Dubuque Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) announced Saturday that they have agreed in principle to enter into a partnership to create a strong bond between the two organizations, in order to promote the game of hockey in the Key City. As a result, starting in fall 2012, DYHA’s youth travel teams will be known as the Junior Saints. Through this new partnership, the Fighting Saints and DYHA hope to improve the overall hockey experience in the Tri-State area.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to work in concert with DYHA to grow the sport of hockey in this area,” said Fighting Saints President Dan Lehv. “DYHA has a rich 33-year history and we look forward to working with their players, coaches, parents and board members to accomplish our shared goals. We are proud to share our name with future Fighting Saints.”

As the name change for Dubuque’s youth teams takes effect, the Fighting Saints will provide two jerseys (one red, one white), two sets of socks, and warm-ups for each player at the mite squirt, peewee, and bantam levels. The helmets, gloves, and hockey pants will all remain black. The Dubuque Junior Saints logo was revealed Saturday at the Fighting Saints Main Camp All-Star Game. The logo is quite similar to the logo of the Fighting Saints, adding a star to the top of the sword to pay tribute to the history of the Dubuque Stars, the previous name of Dubuque’s traveling youth teams, and script identifying the team as the ‘Junior Saints’ below the iconic ‘D’.

“Throughout the last two seasons, DYHA ahs enjoyed our growing relationship with the Fighting Saints,” said DYHA President Brian McCoy. “Our board of directors felt now was the appropriate time to announce a more formal partnership. We look forward to working together to grow hockey in Dubuque at both the recreational and competitive levels.”

Roughly 75 players make up the travelling component of DYHA, with a total of 200 skaters participating in the program as a whole.

The Fighting Saints have participated in two successful DYHA-run ‘Try Hockey for Free’ days that allowed children in Dubuque to experience the sport at no cost earlier this year. Additionally, Fighting Saints players and coaches have assisted at DYHA practices, and DYHA has supported the Fighting Saints with group outings to games. DYHA players have played on the ice between periods at Fighting Saints games, and many DYHA families are Fighting Saints fans and season ticket holders.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)