Feature Story

Thrilling overtime for USHL All-Star Game

 

Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Walters registered the fourth hat trick in USHL All-Star Game history, but it was defenseman Nick Bailen who was the hero for the East Division scoring the overtime winner.

In a game that saw the clubs trade goals all evening, it was only fitting that it needed more than 60 minutes to decide the outcome. It was a night full goals, saves, great passes and several big hits. Nate Condon (Fargo Force) opened the scoring just under three minutes into the contest to give the West a 1-0 lead. Tom Serratore (Youngstown Phantoms), a late All-Star addition, and Max Cook of the Indiana Ice responded with a pair of goals to swing the game in favor of the East. Walters scored the first of his three goals to even the contest heading into the first intermission.

Walters gave the West their second lead of the game early in the second period. Shane Berschbach was the second Indiana Ice player of the night to tally goal when he evened the game later in the frame on a brilliant pass from Ice teammate Cook.

Tyler Barnes (Waterloo Black Hawks) helped the East regain the lead, but Walters finished off his hat trick a little more than six minutes later to once again make the scored tied.

After 60 minutes of play, the game went to overtime with each team skating four players a side. It appeared to be heading to a shootout but Bailen fired a puck that found the back of the net with just 13 seconds remaining in the overtime period giving Team CCM (East) the victory.

Troy Grosenick (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) earned the victory in net making 14 saves after entering the game midway through the second period.

Condon was named player of the game for Team Reebok while Bailen was honored as player of the game for Team CCM. Walters earned the Ron Woodey Award as All-Star MVP with his three-goal performance.

 

New Dubuque team: Fighting Saints

 

On Jan. 23, Northern Lights Hockey, LLC, the ownership group that was recently awarded the USHL team in Dubuque, Iowa, announced that the team will be called the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The team unveiled its official team nickname, colors and logos at the Dubuque Sports & Recreation Festival at the Dubuque Grand River Center.

“As part of the naming process, we conducted a poll of Dubuque hockey fans. The overwhelming choice of name was Fighting Saints,” said Brad Kwong, Managing Director for Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. “Clearly, it’s a name with which fans can identify. Many associate the name Fighting Saints with a history of success, the positive relationships they had with many popular players and the numerous great hockey memories.”

The original Fighting Saints competed in the USHL for 21 seasons (1980-2001). The club won the Clark Cup as playoff champions on three occasions (1981, 1983, 1985) under head coach Jack Barzee and produced a number of players that moved on to NCAA Division I hockey and the National Hockey League. One of the most well-known alumni of the original Fighting Saints was Gary Suter, a 17-year NHL veteran, two time Olympian and Stanley Cup winner. Suter participated in the’s unveiling and signed autographs for the crowd on hand following the ceremony.

The new Fighting Saints primary logo is a bold, stylized ‘D’ bisected by a battle-ready sword which has for a handle a fleur de lys, a well-known icon in Dubuque. A tilted halo sits above the sword. The secondary marks include other local iconography such as the Julien Dubuque Monument. The Fighting Saints new colors are Red and White with Silver accents. “With the logos, we strived to create an identity that would represent the great City of Dubuque in a traditional, classic hockey look”, added Kwong.

The Fighting Saints will have further announcements about the new USHL team in the coming weeks, including how fans can reserve the very best seat locations in the new 3,200-seat Mystique Ice Center currently under construction on Chaplain Schmidt Island in Dubuque. Fans are encouraged to visit www.dubuquefightingsaints.com to sign up to receive the latest news about the team including information on how to get the first shot at the best seats available for all the exciting USHL action returning to Dubuque for the 2010-11 season.

For more information call John Browne at 623-764-1913.

 

Let’s Play Hockey wants to publish your hockey stories. From tournament reports, to feature stories on teams, players or coaches, to opinion pieces on the game of hockey, Let’s Play Hockey accepts submissions from readers throughout the hockey community. To submit your hockey story and/or photo(s), e-mail us at editor@letsplayhockey.com.