FILL OUT A RECRUIT QUESTIONNAIRE
Are you interested in playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints?
CLICK HERE to fill out a recruit questionnaire and your information will be forwarded to our Hockey Operations Staff. Check out the information below to learn why Dubuque is the top choice to play junior hockey not only in the USHL, but also in the United States and beyond.
WHY THE DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS?
TRADITION OF SUCCESS AND PLAYER ADVANCEMENT
Few teams can boast the success that the Fighting Saints have had. Since bringing USHL hockey back to Dubuque in 2010, the Fighting Saints have won a pair of championships, competed internationally, advanced numerous players to NCAA Division I college hockey, and produced NHL Draft picks, including current NHL All-Stars
Johnny Gaudreau (pictured above) and
Zemgus Girgensons.
The Fighting Saints have qualified for every single postseason since returning to the league in 2010, winning the Clark Cup as playoff champions in 2011 and 2013, while claiming the Anderson Cup as regular season champions in 2013 (The 2020 playoffs were not played due to COVID-19). The club also won the Eastern Iowa rivalry trophy, the Dupaco Cowbell Cup, in 2012, 2013 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Dubuque's success led them to represent the United States and the USHL at the 2013 Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia where Dubuque claimed the Bronze Medal.
ImOn Arena
The Dubuque Fighting Saints boast a first-class facility that is among the premier facilities in junior hockey. The 3,079-seat ImOn Arena was built in 2010 and with Dubuque's passionate fan base, provides a true home ice advantage that makes it a tough place for opponents to play. The building features 11 luxury suites, a rink side club, and a beer garden. The arena is equipped with top-notch amenities for the Fighting Saints, including an on-site training room, workout facility, locker rooms, and shooting cage.
WORLD CLASS COACHES AND HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF
The Fighting Saints are led by one of the top coaching staffs in the USHL.
Head Coach Evan Dixon joins the Fighting Saints from the Reading Royals, and brings a decade of coaching experience and fourteen years of playing experience to Dubuque's coaching staff. He has continued to add to the the success of
Kirk MacDonald,
Greg Brown,
Oliver David,
Jason Lammers, who continued the Saints' tradition of excellence with a Clark Cup Final berth in 2016,
Matt Shaw, who led the Saints to an Eastern Conference Final berth, and
Jim Montgomery, who brought the Fighting Saints two championships in his three seasons before accepting the Head Coach position at the University of Denver and subsequently moving up to coach the Dallas Stars in the NHL and is now the head coach of the Boston Bruins.
Assistant Coaches Rory Dynan and Jacob Semik both bring valuable NCAA experience to the Fighting Saints. Dynan provides coaching experience after spending time coaching in the QMJHL, while Semik played for the Fighting Saints before a career in the ECHL.
Goalie Coach Pete Samargia has trained NCAA and Pro goalies for over 10 years and also played two seasons of collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
While in Dubuque, players are taken care of on and off the ice. Dubuque has a history of providing players with housing opportunities with quality billet families located in the immediate area. The Fighting Saints organization thoroughly screens and provides wonderful housing families. Our families work hand in hand with the organization to provide great direction and support for all our players. Families are screened on their value systems, their ability to provide a safe and clean environment and, of course, great food for our always hungry young athletes. There is no cost to our players or their families for this "room and board."
The Fighting Saints are also committed to being active members of the Dubuque community. Players, coaches and front office staff are expected to be involved in the community through appearances at schools, hospitals and the many non-profit organizations in Dubuque. The team will also be active in a number of fundraisers throughout the season, raising money for a number of worthwhile organizations throughout Dubuque. Also during the season, the Fighting Saints players will make weekly appearances throughout Dubuque. Giving back to the community is always a priority for the Fighting Saints.
FIRST-CLASS OWNERSHIP GROUP
Northern Lights Hockey, LLC, is the entity that owns and operates the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The owners of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC, collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level. The ownership group is spearheaded by Fighting Saints alumni
Johnny Gaudreau and
Zemgus Girgensons, longtime NHL business executive
Peter Luukko and Stanley Cup Champion coach
Dan Bylsma, and a host of passionate and committed businessmen and investors. It also includes
Peter Chiarelli, a Stanley Cup Champion, and
Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. Kwong and Chiarelli played hockey together at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. The group also includes local Iowan partners
David S. Field, M.D., and
Tim King, M.D. Dr. Field has practiced orthopedic surgery for 30 years and has been the driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. Dr. Field also owned the Dubuque Thunderbirds, the USA Hockey Tier III team that competed in the Central States Hockey League through the 2009-10 season. Dr. King is an otolaryngologist with Medical Associates Clinic in Dubuque, and is an avid philanthropist who has recognized the social and personal value of development through youth sports, especially hockey.
UNPRECEDENTED MEDIA COVERAGE
For most parents, family, and friends, it can be difficult to make it to Dubuque for every game during the season. So, to help keep fans and family connected to the players, every Fighting Saints game is carried FOR FREE on our radio partner
Eagle 102.3.
In addition, video webcasts are available for all games via
FloHockey.tv for a small fee. FloHockey is the official video provider of the USHL and streams all regular season and playoff games. The Fighting Saints are also covered by many local media sources, including the
Telegraph Herald.
Beyond in-game coverage, we take pride in highlighting players year-round on our website and social media pages. Fans are encouraged to follow us on
Twitter,
Facebook,
YouTube,
TikTok, and
Instagram to keep up with everything happening with our players and our organization.
"MASTERPIECE ON THE MISSISSIPPI"
Dubuque, Iowa's seventh largest city, is located along the banks of the Mississippi River at the junction of Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, is a thriving city that boasts small-town warmth, friendliness, and great education. In recent years the city has gained national attention and recognition. Dubuque has been named an All-America City in 2007, 2012 and 2013. The prestigious award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results. Awarded by the National Civic League, it is the nation's most prestigious and oldest civic recognition program.
Forbes Magazine recently ranked Dubuque as one of the "Best Small Places for Business and Careers". Inc. Magazine recently selected Dubuque as one of its "Best Cities and Boom Towns," the only Iowa city listed in the overall Top 25 in the United States.
Dubuque is viewed as one of the best places in the country to live for all ages due to its job growth, rich history, magnificent historical architecture, diverse arts and cultural amenities and abundant natural beauty, including majestic limestone bluffs along the Mississippi riverfront.
Dubuque has a long history of hockey participation and support. The city has housed a junior hockey team since 1980, and the current Fighting Saints have called the city home since 2010. Visit our
Team History page for more on Dubuque's hockey history.
MORE ABOUT DUBUQUE
Not only is Dubuque a city with rich hockey tradition, it's a great place to live, work or visit. Click the links below to learn more.
Dubuque and the Surrounding Community:
-City of Dubuque
-Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau
-Dubuque Chamber of Commerce
Hotels and Lodging:
Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena
Transportation:
Dubuque Regional Airport
Eastern Iowa Airport - Cedar Rapids
Quad City International Airport - Moline, IL
