Dubuque Fighting Saints Win USHL Clark Cup

Press Release

was a historic night in Dubuque, Iowa as the Clark Cup will make its home here for at least the next year as the Dubuque Fighting Saints won Game Four of the Clark Cup Final to win the best-of-five series 3-1 over the Green Bay Gamblers.

It was back-and-forth during the first period as both teams had quality chances but neither club could light the lamp. Dubuque went into the first intermission with a 13-10 shot advantage but the game was scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

Not long into the second period, the offense came alive as C.J. Eick scored his second goal in as many nights to give the Gamblers a 1-0 lead just 33 seconds into the frame. It was the second consecutive night that Green Bay tallied the first goal of the game. It would be all Dubuque after that as Tyler Lundey scored his second goal in as many nights to pull the game even midway through the period. Three minutes later, captain T.J. Schlueter scored his first goal of the playoffs to put the Saints ahead 2-1.

Early in the third period, Schlueter kept the hot hand as he netted a power play goal just 1:50 into the frame. John Doherty kept the momentum going as he put in an outstanding individual effort to bury his second goal of the playoffs. John Gaudreau added an empty net goal late in the period and Shane Walsh netted a goal for good measure much to the pleasure of the standing room only crowd.

Goaltender Matt Morris made 37 saves, his highest total of the playoffs, to earn the win. He also garnered Clark Cup Playoff MVP honors as he posted a 9-2 record with a 1.53 GAA and a League playoff best .943 SV%.

It was the largest crowd to see a game in the history of Dubuque hockey as 3,480 fans packed the Mystique Ice Center and watched the home club win their third game in a row to capture the Clark Cup. The last time the USHL’s coveted prize took residence in Dubuque was 26 years ago, following the 1984-85 season when the original Dubuque Fighting Saints captured the trophy for the second time.

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