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53-699: Founded in 2011 when the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced its expansion from 12 teams to 16. The Twin City Steel were to be based in the new White Bear Lake Sports Center in White Bear Lake, Minnesota , starting for the 2011–12 season alongside the other three other new NA3HL teams: the Minnesota Junior Hockey League transfers, Granite City Lumberjacks and Minnesota Flying Aces , and an expansion team,

106-656: A 33–23–4 regular season record, finishing third in the Eastern Conference and qualifying for the postseason for the fourth time in four years. Prior to the start of the season, the USHL reduced the number of playoff teams from each conference from 6 to 4, eliminating the opening qualifying round. In the playoffs, the Saints would face-off in the quarterfinals against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for

159-487: A 45–11–8 record, finishing first in the Eastern Conference and the overall league leaders, securing their first Anderson Cup regular season championship since the former Saints in the 1982–83 season, and repeat as Cowbell Cup champions. After securing a bye for the qualifying round, the Saints skated to a 3-games-to-0 quarterfinals win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks . The Youngstown Phantoms took Dubuque to

212-754: A decisive fifth game in the Clark Cup semifinals, with the Saints advancing with the win. In the Clark Cup finals, the Saints would seal the championship with a win on the road, taking down the Fargo Force 3-games-to-0. Dan Lehv was recognized as the USHL Executive of the Year and Jim Montgomery was once again recognized as the USHL General Manager of the Year. Montgomery had served as the team's head coach and general manager from 2010 through

265-495: A finalist for the 2013 Hobey Baker Award, and the winner of the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's hockey player. He made his NHL debut with the Flames in the final game of the 2013–14 NHL season , scoring a goal in his first game. Selected as a rookie to play in the 2015 NHL All Star Game where he registered an assist. Johnny was a 2015 Calder Memorial Trophy finalist, finishing 3rd for

318-534: A guaranteed home-ice advantage in the finals. In the quarterfinals, the Saints would close out a 3-games-to-1 series win against the second seeded Green Bay Gamblers . In the Eastern Conference finals, Dubuque took the first of a back and forth series against the Bloomington Thunder and took the series to game five at home in Dubuque, prevailing in a 3–0 shutout to earn a spot and home-ice advantage in

371-469: A secondary color silver. Their main logo is a Gothic style D with a fleur-de-lis-hilted sword piercing the D and a halo on the top. Started in 2011–12 season and sponsored by Prairie Farms , the Cowbell Cup is awarded to the highest finisher in the "Cowbell Cup Regular Season Series" between the eastern Iowa USHL rivals; Cedar Rapids RoughRiders , Dubuque Fighting Saints, and Waterloo Blackhawks . At

424-428: A shootout. For the postseason, the USHL returned to an expanded playoff format with the top six teams in each conference qualifying for the Clark Cup playoffs, up from four in the previous seasons, allowing the Saints to earn a playoff berth for the eighth straight year, continuing the longest active streak. The best-of-three first round series had the Saints facing the fourth-seeded Green Bay Gamblers . The Saints swept

477-486: A spot in the Clark Cup playoffs a seventh straight year continuing the longest active playoff streak in the league. In the quarterfinals, the Saints faced the third seeded Muskegon Lumberjacks in a series with both teams almost statistically identical. Dubuque would skate to a 3-games-to-1 series win. The Saints faced off against top seeded Chicago in the Conference Finals. After splitting the first two games on

530-481: Is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut , Georgia , Illinois , Iowa , Louisiana , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Missouri , Montana , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Texas , Wisconsin , and Wyoming . Sanctioned by USA Hockey , for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for

583-560: The 2012 NHL Entry Draft . He made his NHL debut with the Sabres during the 2013–14 NHL season , scoring a goal in his first game and becoming the first former Saint to play in the NHL since its return as a franchise. Zemgus was a member of Latvia's 2014 Olympic Men's Hockey Team held in Sochi, Russia. Zemgus was the first place vote-getter for the 2015 NHL All Star Game. Bought a minority stake in

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636-763: The Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques . The Cincinnati Thunder, which had already been playing out of Dayton, re-branded as the Dayton Falcons . The Butte Cobras, formerly of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL), purchased the Glacier Nationals franchise in order to join the NA3HL. The schedule was set with 47 teams, however, the Butte Cobras and Billings Bulls would both fold prior to playing a game, while

689-628: The North Iowa Bulls . The Twin City Steel played their first season out of the new Vadnais Sports Center, situated in the Twin Cities, which includes the suburbs of White Bear Lake, North St. Paul, Forest Lake, Roseville and Moundsview. The Twin City Steel lost their first game, 4–3, at the Granite City Lumberjacks on September 10, 2011, and would record their first win less than a week later at their home-opener. It

742-736: The St. Louis Blues ' organization. The league championship trophy is the Fraser Cup. It was originally called the Hurster Cup during the league's time as the Central States Hockey League. In 2012, the cup was then renamed to the Silver Cup. In 2017, the league again renamed the championship to the Fraser Cup after long-time NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL Director of Hockey Administration, Robert ‘Fraser’ Ritchie. The winner of

795-521: The Texas Jr. Brahmas would transfer from the Western States Hockey League and join the South Division. The expansion Nashville Junior Predators and Point Mallard Ducks (Decatur, AL) also joined the South Division bringing its total up to six teams. The American West Hockey League moved to the NA3HL to form new Frontier Division. The Battle Creek Revolution announced it was re-branding as

848-720: The West Michigan Wolves . The Michigan Mountain Cats were sold and relocated to Jamestown, NY, and called the Southern Tier Xpress. In April 2015, the NA3HL announced an expansion team in Evansville, Indiana , called the Thunderbolts, to play in the South Division beginning in the 2015–16 season. On May 21–22 of 2015, two additional expansion teams were announced: Rochester Ice Hawks , a member of

901-758: The 2013–14 season. Owned by Ken Kestas, the Bulldogs played home games out of Canlan Ice Sports in Romeoville, Illinois. Quad City Jr. Flames (Davenport, Iowa) relocated to Madison, Wisconsin , in May 2013 and were renamed the Wisconsin Whalers . In May 2014, the Flint Jr. Generals were purchased and relocated to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and renamed the La Crosse Freeze . The NA3HL announced that

954-474: The 2015–16 regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference. For the sixth straight year, the Saints qualified for a spot in the Clark Cup playoffs, further extending the longest active playoff streak in the league. Each of the four Eastern Conference playoff teams finished the season with better records than all teams in the Western Conference, gaining the eventual Eastern Conference champions

1007-806: The Boston Bruins in the sixth-round, 175th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft . After four seasons at Northeastern University, the defenseman signed an entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers and made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 1, 2016. Riley Barber (2010–11) - Selected by the Washington Capitals in the sixth-round, 167th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft . Barber played three seasons at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, garnering

1060-660: The Clark Cup finals. Even with the home-ice advantage, the Fighting Saints would be swept in three games in the finals by the Tri-City Storm . Following the season, Saints net-minder Hunter Miska was recognized by USA Hockey as the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year . The Saints finished the 2016–17 regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference with forward Zach Solow garnering the USHL regular season scoring title. The Saints qualified for

1113-687: The Cup typically receives a bid to compete in the USA Hockey Tier III junior hockey National Championship Tournament, however, the tournament has not been held since 2015. Dubuque Fighting Saints The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are based in the city of Dubuque, Iowa , on the banks of the Mississippi River at

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1166-730: The Dayton Falcons, Nashville Junior Predators , and Jersey Shore Wildcats were also removed from the schedules during the season. In April 2018, the NA3HL announced the entire East Division had left the league including the reigning champions, the Metro Jets , and joined the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The Butte Cobras were also announced as returning and the Point Mallard Ducks were purchased and relocated to become

1219-458: The Eastern Conference. The defending champions would finish in third place with a 36–20–4 record and claim the inaugural "Cowbell Cup". They would go on to win the opening best-of-three qualifying round of the playoffs 2-games-to-0 over Team USA . The Saints were then swept in the best-of-five quarterfinals by the Indiana Ice . The Fighting Saints would roll through the 2012–13 season with

1272-560: The Fighting Saints' ownership group in 2018. Mike Matheson (2011–12) - Selected as the Florida Panthers ' first-round selection, 23rd overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft . After three seasons at Boston College, Matheson, a defenseman and team captain, signed with the Panthers and played with their AHL affiliate before making his NHL debut on February 20 of the 2015–16 NHL season . Matt Benning (2012–13) - Selected by

1325-654: The Milwaukee Power. In 2020, the WSHL's Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers purchased the dormant Coulee Region Chill franchise to join the league for 2020 and the El Paso Rhinos announced an agreement to add expansion teams to both the NA3HL in 2020 and the NAHL in 2021. The Coastal and Northeast divisions merged into a new East Division beginning with the 2020–21 season following several teams withdrawing. In 2023,

1378-591: The Muskegon Lumberjacks. In a back and forth five-game series with neither team notching back-to-back wins, Muskegon would prevail in game 5 by holding off a late game rally for the 3–4 win and take the series. Following the season, head coach Matt Shaw announced that he would be leaving the Saints after accepting a position as an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota . The Saints under direction of first year coach Jason Lammers, finished

1431-744: The NA3HL. On May 21, 2016, the Missoula Bruins youth hockey organization from Missoula, Montana , announced it had been approved as an expansion team in the Frontier Division of the NA3HL. The Missoula Junior Bruins replaced the Missoula Maulers of the Western States Hockey League after arena negotiations with the Maulers' owner fell through. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the Lockport Express relocated to become

1484-466: The NHL rookie of the year award. Johnny has been selected as an NHL All Star on Team Pacific in 2016 and 2017. Bought a minority stake in the Fighting Saints' ownership group in 2018. On August 29, 2024; Johnny and his brother Matthew were tragically killed in a cycling accident. Zemgus Girgensons (2010–11, 2011–12) - Selected as the Buffalo Sabres ' first-round selection, 14th overall, in

1537-422: The NHL's Minnesota Wild). The purpose of their group was to assemble and develop plans to obtain ownership of an USHL expansion team, announcing in late 2009 their intentions to bring USHL hockey back to Dubuque. The new team replaced the successful Dubuque Thunderbirds in 2010. After completion of voting from local hockey fans, it was revealed that the "Fighting Saints" moniker would once again represent Dubuque in

1590-804: The New Ulm Steel moved to Tomah, Wisconsin , becoming the Wisconsin Woodsmen . With the moved, they were transferred from the West Division to the Central Division. They hired head coach Jon Vaillancourt. In their first season, they placed 4th and made the playoffs, playing the Wausau Cyclones . They got swept, 2-0. In 2024, the Minnesota Loons were sold and moved to Eveleth, Minnesota , and went under

1643-991: The Niagara Falls PowerHawks, the Syracuse Stampede relocated to become the Oswego Stampede , and the West Michigan Wolves relocated to become the Lansing Wolves . The Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, Euless Jr. Stars, and L/A Fighting Spirit franchises were sold; the Bulldogs were relocated as the Wausau RiverWolves, the Jr. Stars re-branded as the Mid-Cities Jr. Stars, and the Fighting Spirit re-branded as

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1696-664: The Pinnacle Hockey Group, LLC, consisting of owners Adam Keer and Ryan Egan, purchased and relocated the New Ulm Steel to Tomah, Wisconsin , as the Wisconsin Woodsmen. This American ice hockey team-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a sports team in Wisconsin is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . North American 3 Hockey League The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL)

1749-666: The Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015. Originally formed in the early 1970s as a Junior B-level league known as the Central States Hockey League (CSHL), the league evolved into the Metro Detroit Junior Hockey League in the early 1980s. The CSHL name was used again from 1994 until 2010. The league was reclassified from Tier III Junior B to Tier III Junior A in

1802-424: The USHL. In their first year back in the USHL for the 2010–11 season, the Saints would inaugurate the brand new Mystique Community Ice Center with Dubuque native Brooks Bertsch scoring the first goal. The expansion Fighting Saints had a successful season compiling a 37–14–9 record and taking first place in the Western Conference. The Saints would earn a 9–2 playoff record, defeating the Fargo Force 3-games-to-0 in

1855-407: The end of the 2012–13 season. In May 2013, Matt Shaw was hired as head coach and GM to replace Montgomery who was hired as head coach of the University of Denver Pioneers . Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, first-year coach Shaw and the Saints were invited to play in the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia, finishing with the bronze medal. Returning home, the defending champions skated to

1908-435: The eventual Silver Cup Champion North Iowa Bulls . On April 26, 2016, it was announced that the Twin City Steel would be relocating to New Ulm, Minnesota , to become the New Ulm Steel. In 2018, Steve Black also purchased a team in the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and relocated it as the Chippewa Steel . In March 2021, Steve Black sold both Steel teams to an ownership group led by Kelly Kasik. In April 2023,

1961-428: The first time and would win the series 3-games-to-1. The Saints were then swept out of the semifinals by the eventual Clark Cup Champion Indiana Ice , 3-games-to-0. The Saints finished the 2014–15 regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 36–19–5 record. For the fifth straight year since returning to the USHL, they qualified for the Clark Cup playoffs, extending the longest active playoff streak in

2014-459: The former Minnesota Junior Hockey League , was added the West Division, and the Louisiana Drillers playing out of Lafayette, Louisiana was added to the South Division. On March 4, 2016, it was formally announced that the North American Hockey League 's other Tier III league, the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL), would be added to the NA3HL beginning with the 2016–17 season. The former NA3EHL teams became two new divisions within

2067-411: The franchise ceased operations. To replace the hockey void in Dubuque, the Fighting Saints were replaced in the 2001–02 season by the Dubuque Thunderbirds in the Tier III Minnesota Junior Hockey League and later the Central States Hockey League . The Thunderbirds would prove to be a success and would win league championships in 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2009 while setting league attendance records along

2120-418: The honor. In an injury-plagued 2017–18 regular season, the Saints finished in fifth place with 33 of 60 games being decided by a single point where they held a 14–19 record. Of the 33 single point games, 18 advanced to overtime, earning the Saints 18 bonus points in the standings, contributing to their fifth-place finish for the season. The Saints were 4–10 in games ending in overtime and 1–3 in games ending in

2173-414: The ice and crowds in the stands decreased putting the team into some financial trouble. During the 2000–01 season, team owner/GM/coach Brain Gallagher announced plans to relocate the team following the season to Tulsa, Oklahoma to play as the Tulsa Crude . In their first and only season in Tulsa, Gallagher's team would finish last in the league (12–43–6) and failed to generate the necessary fan support, and

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2226-407: The intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Home games are played at the ImOn Arena (capacity: 3,079). The original Dubuque Fighting Saints played at the multi-purpose Dubuque Five Flags Center arena situated in downtown Dubuque from 1980 to 2001. In the early years of the franchise the Saints enjoyed much success with a number of championship seasons. In later years, the team struggled on

2279-434: The league. The Saints also claimed their third "Cowbell Cup" in the Prairie Farms Cowbell Cup Series over Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. The playoff quarterfinals pitted the Saints in a 2014 quarterfinals rematch against rival Cedar Rapids, a team that Dubuque had a 6–2 regular season record against. Dubuque would sweep Cedar Rapids 3-games-to-0 in the best-of-five series to move on. The best-of-five semifinals pitted Dubuque against

2332-420: The quarterfinals, Sioux Falls Stampede 3-games-to-1 in the semifinals, and defeating the defending Clark Cup Champion Green Bay Gamblers 3-games-to-1 in the best-of-five USHL Clark Cup championship series. Saints LW Rookie Johnny Gaudreau was recognized as the USHL Rookie of the Year and Jim Montgomery was recognized as the USHL General Manager of the Year. In the 2011–12 season, the Saints were moved to

2385-492: The road series 2-games-to-none for their eighth consecutive year with a playoff series win, but were eliminated in the following round. Prior to 2018–19 season, Philip Falcone sold his interest in Northern Lights Hockey to another group under the name Saints4Life Acquisitions, LLC. Saints4Life's investors were made up of many other individuals including Dan Bylsma , Johnny Gaudreau , Zemgus Girgensons , and Peter Luukko . The Fighting Saints team colors are red and white and

2438-413: The road, the Saints would be stopped in both games at home, dropping the series 3-games-to-1. Second year coach Jason Lammers announced that he would be accepting the head coaching position at Niagara University at the conclusion of the season. After leading the league in scoring, Saints forward Zach Solow was bestowed the Dave Tyler National Junior Player of the Year , the first Dubuque player to receive

2491-568: The same umbrella as the NAHL 's Minnesota Wilderness , taking the same name, logo, colors, and uniforms. Similarly, the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL added a NA3HL franchise as an expansion team. Also joining as an expansion team is the Tulsa Jr. Oilers. Many prominent college and pro hockey players have played in the CSHL at one point in their careers, including 2007 Hobey Baker finalist Eric Ehn ( Metro Jets ), St. Louis Blues forward and 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympian Paul Stastny (St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Chris Butler (St. Louis Jr. Blues), now in

2544-453: The start of the 2015–16 season, Dupaco Community Credit Union became the primary sponsor of the renamed "Dupaco Cowbell Cup". The Fighting Saints have won the Cowbell Cup in the following seasons: Dubuque Fighting Saints alumni Johnny Gaudreau (2010–11) - Selected as the Calgary Flames ' fourth-round, 104th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft . "Johnny Hockey" was a member of the Boston College Eagles 2012 NCAA National Championship team,

2597-408: The summer of 2007 by USA Hockey. During the 2008–09 season, it was announced that the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins would join the CSHL for the 2009–10 season, bringing the number of teams to 13. The league returned to 12 teams for 2010–11, as the Dubuque Thunderbirds franchise folded to make way for the return of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League . On November 1, 2010, it

2650-469: The way. In the fall of 2009, construction began on the new Mystique Community Ice Center . Around that same time several former hockey teammates from Harvard formed Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. which included former team captain, Brad Kwong; Philip Falcone (part owner of NHL's Minnesota Wild ); Peter Chiarelli (a general manager for the NHL's Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers ); and former University of Denver player Mark Falcone (board member of

2703-408: Was announced on April 23, 2013, that the Steel have been sold by Scott Wallin to the Black family. After a successful 30–13–4 record during the 2015–16 regular season, the Steel would go on to win their first West Division Championship by sweeping the defending league champions, Granite City Lumberjacks . The Steel then made their first NA3HL Silver Cup Playoff appearance but would lose in overtime to

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2756-403: Was announced that the Granite City Lumberjacks , Minnesota Flying Aces , North Iowa Bulls and the Twin City Steel would join the league beginning with the 2011–12 season bringing the total number of teams in the NA3HL to 16. In March 2013, the NA3HL announced that its Board of Governors has accepted the membership application for the Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, which began play in the NA3HL during

2809-423: Was announced that the North American Hockey League would take control of the CSHL. The NAHL-CSHL affiliation intends for a more structured junior hockey system to provide athletes with more opportunities to advance to college and professional hockey, including a draft of CSHL players into the NAHL. At the time of the take over, the league was renamed to the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). In May 2011, it

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