Chicago, IL – The Dubuque Fighting Saints (2-0-0-0, 4 pts) finished their opening week with a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Storm (0-1-0-0, 0 pts).
Joseph Covelluzzi wired in his first goal of the year with just under eight minutes to play to give the Saints a 4-3 lead in a back-and-forth matchup against the Storm. Arsienii Voroteliak logged his second assist in the first two games on the game-winner.
Dubuque never trailed in the game, but also never trailed in the win as Brandon Wright made 25 saves in his victorious USHL debut. The Saints opened the scoring early in the opening period with a power-play goal by Melvin Ekman, his second goal in as many games to start the season.
The teams traded goals from there as Tri-City scored a deflection goal past Wright late in the first to send the game tied into the second.
The Saints took the lead back with 6:05 to go in the second as David Thomasson netted his first of the season on a turnaround shot in the slot. Travis Lefere assisted for his fourth point of the weekend.
After a Tri-City power-play goal tied the game late in the second period, the Saints answered early in the third. David Blasiak ripped a rebound in for his first USHL goal with an assist from Nate Kydd. Just 11 seconds later, however, Tri-City responded to tie the game.
Covelluzzi put the Saints ahead about five minutes later before Wright made a few key saves late to hold the win for Dubuque.
The Saints finished the day with one goal on five power-play chances and stopped three of four Tri-City power plays. For the second-straight game, the Saints outshot their opponent and recorded 30 shots.
For the second-straight season, the Saints won both contests at the Fall Classic. Dubuque returns to Iowa for a matchup next weekend on the road in Cedar Rapids.
