Waterloo, IA — It has finally come to an end. The Dubuque Fighting Saints league long eight game road trip (twelve if you count the preseason) has run its course.

While renovations and updates have been completed at the newly renamed Dubuque Ice Arena, the Saints embarked on what would surely be a test of their will power and determination. After being able to return home for practice just two days before Saturday's affair with the Waterloo Black Hawks, it would have been understandable to see the Saints look beyond Waterloo on Saturday afternoon. But for one more game, they carried their "Win the Road" mantra and finished the road stand with a winning record.

After a feeling out first period Saturday afternoon, the scoring got started quickly in the middle frame for the Fighting Saints. Nils Juntorp, who has been on an absolute scorching hot stretch, scored his fourth goal in the last three games after intercepting a break out pass. Juntorp walked right down the slot as a Saints power play expired and beat Waterloo's Emmitt Croteau on the glove side.

The offense continued to dazzle for the Saints in all phases of the game. Mikey Burchill beat Croteau just 44 seconds later finishing off a well executed three-on-two. Then Riley Stuart got gifted a chance short handed from Croteau who came out to play a puck and served it up to the co-captain on a shining silver platter on a failed passing attempt. Stuart made no mistakes with it, looking off Max Montes and then roofing a shot past Croteau to give the Fighting Saints a commanding 3-0 lead before the mid-way point of the game.

Waterloo finally snapped the stellar play of Marcus Brännman with a power play goal from Gavin Lindberg with 3:29 to go in the second period. But the Saints didn't panic. Max Burkholder closed out a dominant second period for Dubuque with one more rocket of a shot past Croteau. James Reeder entered the offensive zone for the Fighting Saints two-on-two, put on the brakes and found Burkholder coming into the play late and fed him a soft pass to skate into and Burkholder handled the rest restoring the Saints three goal lead and sending Croteau to the bench in the third period.

The Fighting Saints used their dominant second period to cruise to a 5-2 victory in their final matchup before their home opener this Friday vs. Madison. Reeder scored the Saints fifth goal on an empty net. Brännman finished the night with 29 saves, including a few A+ stops in the third period that saw the Saints get outshot 15-4. His counterparts, Croteau and Jack Spicer, combined for 19 saves on 24 shots on goal.

Dubuque finished their road trip 4-3-1, earning 9 of a possible 16 points. Now, the return home for the first time and will enjoy 30 of their final 54 games in the Dubuque Ice Arena.

Up Next

The Saints square off with the Madison Capitols this Friday night, November 4th at 7:05 p.m. for their home opening game. Fans attending the game will receive a free Dubuque Fighting Saints magnet schedule. Ticket's can be purchased online.