Press Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Dubuque Fighting Saints roster is set for Opening
Night. Head Coach and General Manager Jim Montgomery finalized the
Fighting Saints 23-man roster today, giving Dubuque the group they will
hit the ice with in 2012-13, starting in their first regular season game
on Friday, September 28 at home versus Tri-City.
“I’m
extremely pleased with the team we have,” said Montgomery. “Our camp was
the best camp we’ve ever had. We have an abundance of depth at every
position. With this group, we have a lot of room to grow. The locker
room seems to be very vibrant and full of energy.”
The
Fighting Saints roster features five returning players who spent a large
portion of the season with Dubuque last year. Captain Shane Sooth
returns for a third season at forward, complemented upfront by returner
Eric Freschi. On the blueline, Mike Downing, along with Kyle McKenzie
are both back for a second full season of duty with Dubuque. Goaltender
Connor Girard returns between the pipes after being acquired in a
mid-season trade last year from the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL.
Fresh
faces that will look to make an immediate impact for Dubuque include
forward Seamus Malone, who the Fighting Saints signed to a tender for
this season. Malone, a University of Wisconsin commit, scored five
points, including four goals in two games, last week at the USHL Fall
Classic. Forward Frankie DiChiara made his name known in training camp
and put up strong numbers in preseason action after playing with St.
Louis of the NAHL last season. In a late move, the Fighting Saints
elected to add forward Dylan Gambrell to the roster after a strong
showing at the USHL Fall Classic. Gambrell was Dubuque’s top selection
in the 2012 USHL Future’s Draft and was originally not on the Fighting
Saints initial 31-man training camp roster.
On
defense, the Fighting Saints chose to keep nine defenseman after trading
blueliner Jake Downing to Sioux Falls on Sunday. Coming off a shoulder
injury, Preston Hodge will start the season on Injured Reserve and will
not count against the roster limit, leaving Dubuque with eight healthy
blueliners. Veteran Brandon Carlson, who is playing with his fourth USHL
team, can play both defense and forward, and will look to be a leader
in the locker room as one of the veterans. Keegan Ford will factor in on
defense as well. The Waunakee, WI native signed a tender with Dubuque
and is committed to the University of Wisconsin.
USHL
teams may carry four import players, and the Fighting Saints will begin
the season with three. Defenseman Niklas Nevalainen from Finland has
shown flashes of strong play both in his own zone and jumping up to join
the rush in the offensive zone. The Fighting Saints also have two
players from Alberta, Canada with forward Peter Quenneville and
defenseman Matt Benning, both draft picks of the Fighting Saints this
past summer.
USHL teams may also carry four players born in the
year 1992. Dubuque is at this limit with Sooth, Carlson, Hodge, and
forward Mike Szmatula from Commerce Township, MI. Szmatula led the
Maritime Junior Hockey League last year in scoring and took league MVP
honors, notching 87 points in 52 games with Summerside.
Coming
off an impressive training camp and an equally impressive preseason,
goaltender Arthur Brey made the Fighting Saints roster, and along with
Girard, provides Dubuque with strong goaltending.
The
Fighting Saints open the season this Friday at Mystique Community Ice
Center. It is Opening Night presented by American Trust as the Fighting
Saints host the Tri-City Storm at 7:35 p.m. The first 3,000 fans receive
a magnetic schedule. Tickets are available by calling 563.583.6880 or
by visiting DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
The 23-man roster is available HERE.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
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