Pittsburgh, PA — The Fighting Saints opened their 2022-23 campaign this weekend at the DICK'S Sporting Goofs USHL Fall Classic with a pair of games against Western Conference foes. Dubuque squared off with long-time Iowa rival the Des Moines Buccaneers on Saturday, and sparred with the Omaha Lancers on Sunday evening.

On opening night, the Saints jumped out to a hot start against the Buccaneers, outshooting them 17-7 in the first period. Just one second after a power play expired, Max Montes was able to bang home a rebound amidst chaos in front of the Des Moines net for the Fighting Saints first goal of the season.

As the clock reset to a fresh 20-minutes for the 2nd period, it didn't take long for the Saints to double their lead over the Buccaneers. After blocking a shot in his own defensive zone, Ryan St. Louis sprung out to center ice as the Saints went three on two in transition. St. Louis was able to step into a one-timer on a rolling puck and blasted it past Jan Korec between the pipes for Des Moines just 45 seconds into the 2nd period.

The middle of the second period paved way to an eight minute span where the Saints and Buccaneers went blow for blow with each other. Des Moines Anthony Ruklic cut the deficit in half 7:08 into the period. Just three minutes later, Saints co-captains Riley Stuart and Max Burkholder were able to connect on a give and go to restore the Saints two goal lead at 3-1. However, Des Moines would not go away quietly. Two goals from the Bucs just three minutes and twelve seconds apart tied the game at three.

The Saints had lead for nearly 21 minutes of game time, and all of a sudden things were tied. Enter Noah Powell. Powell, who clearly had no interest in being tied once more, took just 17 seconds to retake the lead for Dubuque. He stick handled his way through traffic working off the wall and right to the goal, beating Korec for his first USHL goal and giving the saints a 4-3 lead heading to the third period.

Early in the third period, Lubomir Kupco was able to tie the game again for Des Moines at 4-4 to eventually force overtime in the season opener for both teams. Powell had the first chance for Dubuque after two Buccaneers skated into each other and left the rookie with a breakaway chance that he shot wide of the goal. Then, after a bad change by the Buccaneers, Mikey Burchill was able to spring St. Louis for a breakaway to end the game and send the Saints home with a resilient 5-4 overtime win.

Paxton Geisel stopped 20 of 24 shots on goal in the victory. The Saints went 0-for-3 on the power play, but we're 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

Sunday vs. Omaha

Following an offensive outburst the night before, the Fighting Saints did themselves few favors on Sunday evening against the Omaha Lancers. The Saints made a few changes to their lineup, most notably giving Marcus Brännman the start in goal.

After a dominant first period for Dubuque, where they out shot Omaha 11-3 but didn't score, there was a feeling that they had maybe let the Lancers get away with a slow start. The second period proved that theory to be true.

Omaha found their legs, the momentum, and the game winning goal in the middle frame. The Saints, who struggled all period to properly handle the longer change, were caught out of position by a heads up play by Omaha's Nate Benoit. Benoit wired a pass from below his own goal line to the Saints blue line to send Ryan Kusler and Braydon Beahm in on Brännman. Kusler slid it to Beahm on the back door to put Omaha ahead 1-0.

Alex Bump would add an insurance marker on another 2-on-0 for Omaha late in the 3rd period. Then the Lancers' Griffin Jurecki put aside any hopes of a Saints comeback with an empty net goal with under a minute and a half to play to seal a 3-0 win for Omaha. 

In the loss, the Saints out shot Omaha 27-22, but unlike their foes, were unable to capitalize on their chances. Dubuque went 0-for-4 on the power play, including a four minute double minor that stretched from the second to third period.

The Fighting Saints finished the weekend 1-1-0-0, earning two of a possible four points.

Up Next

The Saints travel to Madison for their first regular season game outside of the Fall Classic. The Saints and Capitols will clash for the first of six meetings this season in a one-game series on Friday night. It is the Capitols home opener with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m.

You can listen to the action on the Saints official radio partner Eagle 102.3 or watch the action live on FloHockey. The Saints home opener is set for Friday, November 4th at 7:05 p.m. vs. Madison. Tickets are available online.