Thursday, September 27, 2012

FIGHTING SAINTS FINALIZE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER

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)

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