The Dupaco Cowbell Cup is returning for the 2025-26 season, showcasing four teams vying for eastern Iowa's hockey title again this season. The Dubuque Fighting Saints, five-time defending Cowbell Cup Champions, will square off against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Des Moines Buccaneers and Waterloo Black Hawks throughout the 2025-26 campaign to make up the Cowbell Cup schedule.
The Dupaco Cowbell Cup point system will be similar to the regular USHL standings system. Each designated head-to-head game between the four teams in contention will count toward the USHL standings and the Cowbell Cup standings. The Cowbell Cup will be awarded to the team with the most Cowbell Cup points at the end of the USHL regular season. For all Cowbell Cup games, teams will earn two points for each win and one point for each overtime or shootout loss.
In addition to six-straight Dupaco Cowbell Cup championships, the Saints lead all teams with nine total Cowbell Cup titles. No other team boasts more than four wins as the Fighting Saints have taken nine of the 14 total titles.
"Supporting community events and bringing value to our members are both important Dupaco initiatives," said Joe Hearn, President and CEO, Dupaco Community Credit Union. "As the presenting sponsor of the Dupaco Cowbell Cup series, we're supporting four of the communities in which we have a strong presence of Dupaco Credit Union members. This partnership allows us to help provide excellent family-friendly events to our members and the community at large."
2025-26 COWBELL CUP STANDINGS
| TEAM |
GP |
RECORD |
POINTS |
| Dubuque |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
| Cedar Rapids |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
| Des Moines |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
| Waterloo |
0 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
2025-2026 FIGHTING SAINTS DUPACO COWBELL CUP SCHEDULE (Home Games in bold)
| Date |
Opponent |
Location |
Time (CST) / Result |
| October 30, 2025 |
Des Moines |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| November 26, 2025 |
Des Moines |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| December 6, 2025 |
Cedar Rapids |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| January 17, 2026 |
Des Moines |
RecPlex (West Des Moines, IA) |
6:05 p.m. |
| January 18, 2026 |
Cedar Rapids |
ImOn Ice (Cedar Rapids, IA) |
4:05 p.m. |
| February 6, 2026 |
Cedar Rapids |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| February 21, 2026 |
Cedar Rapids |
ImOn Ice (Cedar Rapids, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| February 27, 2026 |
Waterloo |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| February 28, 2026 |
Waterloo |
Young Arena (Waterloo, IA) |
6:35 p.m. |
| March 6, 2026 |
Des Moines |
RecPlex (West Des Moines, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
| March 17, 2026 |
Waterloo |
Young Arena (Waterloo, IA) |
6:35 p.m. |
| April 1, 2026 |
Waterloo |
ImOn Arena (Dubuque, IA) |
7:05 p.m. |
Cowbell Cup Past Results
2024-25 COWBELL CUP STANDINGS
| TEAM |
GP |
RECORD |
POINTS |
| Dubuque |
24 |
19-5-0 |
38 |
| Waterloo - e |
24 |
11-7-6 |
28 |
| Cedar Rapids - e |
24 |
10-11-3 |
23 |
| Des Moines - e |
24 |
8-11-5 |
21 |
