DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Dubuque Fighting Saints claimed the Clark Cup emblematic of supremacy in the United States Hockey League and in USA Hockey Tier One Junior Hockey with a 6-1 win last night at home over the Green Bay Gamblers. They won the best of five series in four games. Green Bay last year’s champion lost three straight times in the series after taking the opening game.
A standing room only house of 3,480 witnessed a tight game until Dubuque broke the game wide open with four goals in the third period.
The crowd was the largest crowd ever to see a hockey game in the Iowa city. Dubuque is the newest USHL franchise although a team also named the Fighting Saints previously competed in the league.
The teams traded opportunities in the initial period as both goalies made several nice saves. Both teams ended with shot totals in the double digits. Neither team could score so the game was into the second stanza before the jammed packed Mystique Community Ice Center crowd had a chance to anticipate a Clark Cup win.
That anticipation didn’t start early however as Green Bay’s C. J. Eick with a set up from Grant Arnold beat goalie Matt Norris just 0:33 into the period. It was Eick’s second strike in two nights. Unfortunately for Gambler fans it was their only highlight of the night as the Fighting Saints reeled off the next six goals to send the crowd into frenzy. Morris went on to shutout Green Bay out the rest of the game and was named the series MVP. He finished with 37 saves in the game.
Tyler Lundey tied the score 1-1 for Dubuque at 9:45 with helpers from John Doherty and T.J. Moor. Before Green Bay could adjust Dubuque struck again as team Captain T.J. Schlueter scored what turned out to be the game winner. The team Captain’s goal came at 12:57 with Shane Walsh providing the set up.
The 2-1 lead carried over into the third period but the dam broke quickly as Schlueter rode a power play opportunity to score his second straight goal from Shane Sooth and Tyler Lundey. This marker was followed by three goals in about a four minute stretch of time. First John Doherty struck at 13:38 to run the score to 4-1.
Green Bay coach Eric Rud sensing the series slipping away pulled his goal tender Ryan McKay early but the Gamblers’ gamble didn’t pay off as John Gaudreau (Zemgus Girgenson) got an empty netter at 16:24.
The final goal and the 6-1 win came on an unassisted goal by Shane Walsh at 17:12 and the Dubuque celebration erupted as fans celebrated their first Clark Cup since a win in 1985.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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