Played on Jan 3, 2026
Game Played in Fox Valley Arena
General Game Notes: Neutral Zone was in attendance for this USHL matchup between the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Chicago Steel at Fox Valley Ice Arena, in Geneva, Illinois. Dubuque defeated Chicago by a score of 6-4. Power performers included Charlie Arend (DUB) and Colin Frank (DUB), both who posted 3 points apiece.
Zach Spagnuolo (D, L, 6’1″, 189, Chicago Steel, 04/08/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Zach is an average sized, stay-at-home type defenseman, with a left hand shot. A strong and mobile skater, he plays a physical game on the backend, paying close attention to the front. Along the wall and in the corners, Zach utilizes a long reach and plays a heavy stick-on-stick style, riding forwards out and closing out their playmaking options. He picked up a goal and an assist tonight, where he tied the game at one, late in the first, where he slid in from the blue line to the far dot and blasted a one-timer slapshot through traffic. Zach usually plays more of a conservative style on the backend as initially noted, but tonight he proved that he has the ability to step up his game and provide some offensive out-put, rather than just be a defensive specialist.
Jonas Kemps (D, L, 6’6″, 199, Chicago Steel, 01/16/2008, Michigan State)
Game Rating
B
This defensive defenseman exhibits a solid skill set, showcasing fluid skating ability and a long reach that enables him to control the defensive blueline. He is effective at chipping pucks up and out of the zone, as well as making safe passes to his forward lines. While his size and stride provide an advantage, he relies heavily on his stick positioning and gap control for defense, often neglecting to utilize his physical frame to finish off attackers.
1 Viewing
Comments: At 6’6′ and and 200 lbs, Kemps possess a powerful commodity of size and mobility. He was able to net his first USHL goal this evening as he ripped a shot from the far side blue line that made its way through traffic and deflected off a Dubuque defender and in. Defensively, however is where he excels as he is relatively consistent in closing of attacking forwards and shutting down lanes, with his long reach and impressive gap control. He generally chooses good angles to ride out oncoming forwards and looks to be becoming physically stronger as opposed to last year, especially in the corners. He finished as a plus 1 and was on the ice for only one of Dubuque’s six goals. He has been missing that offensive upside from AAA where he put up 39 points two years ago, but with confidence in time, it is hopeful those numbers will start to slowly come. He has a lot of potential that NHL clubs will be interested in for the upcoming draft. Possibly a later round selection.
Jackson Crowder (C, R, 6’3″, 184, Chicago Steel, 04/26/2007, Ohio State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jackson is an above average sized, two-way forward, with a right hand shot. He’s athletic, slippery, and sees the ice extremely well while in quick operation. Jackson can weave in and out of defensive coverage, while entering the offensive zone, but he was most impressive tonight operating below the goal line. For instance, he picked up an assist on Spagnuolo’s goal while working hard behind the Dubuque net, emerging with the puck near the far post and finding Spagnuolo sneaking in from the blueline for the one-timer. He looks to be trending upward as he is currently on pace as just under a point per game player this year. The 2025 Washington draft pick may be on trajectory to be a strong candidate for a bottom 6 role at the professional level, due to his relentless puck pursuit down low, and his ability to get the puck to his teammates from the places other guys don’t want to go.
Timothy Kazda (RW, R, 6’1″, 193, Chicago Steel, 10/04/2008, Boston College)
Game Rating
B+
Timothy Kazda is a two-way forward with a strong shot and decent speed. He has shown flashes of scoring ability, particularly in tight spaces where he can get his wrist shot on net. Consistency in his tape-to-tape passing and quick release are notable aspects of his game, especially when shooting from below the circles or from the corners. As a newer addition to the team, Kazda is still developing his overall skill set. He has shown promise in creating scoring chances, often making clever movements around the opponent’s net. His ability to rotate and cycle himself into position creates brief net front presence.
1 Viewing
Comments: Tim has been consistently showing that he has the ability to adjust to the USHL game and continues to develop into an intriguing prospect moving forward. He netted his 11th of the year, tapping home a rebound out in front of the crease to make the game a one goal deficit in the third, and then added an assist to tie the game with just under 9 minutes remaining. When we first saw Tim at the USHL level, he was playing more to the perimeter and releasing shots from outside the dots. Now it is evident that he has gained the confidence to not only find his way to the middle of the ice but possess the tenacity to get to the front of the net, and work from below the goal line. He has continued to build consistency after only playing 6 scoreless games last year and looks to break the 30-point mark in his underage season. Next to watch for Tim is to see if he can develop into the type of forward that can put points on the board multiple ways, with different modes of attack (i.e. his distribution game). Should he continue on his trajectory, he will be a prospect to watch for the 2027 NHL Draft rankings.
James Scantlebury (C, L, 5’9″, 172, Chicago Steel, 01/15/2009, Boston University)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: James is borderline average sized, playmaking centerman, with a left hand shot. He picked up a nice assist tonight as he was able to make a strong play in the neutral zone and then push pace over the line. Here he followed the puck to the far corner and at a moment’s notice without barely looking, fired the puck to Major in the high slot who put the puck in the net on a quick release. If James isn’t keeping his head on a swivel in the neutral zone, then this goal never happens. He plays with a long and agile stride, along with his feet spread wide on cuts, gaining the most ground on his edges. His speed helps him push pace on the rush as he often looks to go to the outside and look to distribute, but that may change in time. Also, his play in the neutral zone is noticeable as the amount of ground he covers north-south/east-west is due in large part to his quick footwork. He’s an underage this year but should he continue to grow at his current pace, expect him to be on the 2027 NHL draft board.
Teo Toubhans Besnier (D, R, 5’9″, 173, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 08/19/2005, Lake Superior)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Teo is an undersized, two-way defenseman, with a right hand shot. Quick, mobile, and elusive on the breakout, he made intelligent decisions retrieving and moving pucks out of his own end. He’s relatively cerebral in the way he plays the game i.e. evading hits, jumping into the offensive rush when applicable, all while being able to recover. He picked up an assist in tonight’s contest and recorded 1 shot on goal, all while recording tons of ice time. An extremely well rounded and intriguing defensive prospect who has already seen years of experience playing internationally for his native France. He will take his talents to Lake Superior State next year. Do not be surprised if you see him playing at the World Championships (non under 20) or the Olympic Games in the near future representing France.
Charlie Arend (C, L, 5’11”, 186, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 01/10/2006, Cornell)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Charlie is an average sized, two-way centerman, with a left hand shot. Arguably the most impactful player on the ice this evening, his finished the night with 3 points (2G, 1A), after opening the scoring after sneaking down the high slot, catching a pass out of the far side corner, and then sniping a wrister to the blocker side. He came up big again, early in the third period when it looked like he was entangled behind the play in the far corner with a Steel defenseman, only to jump back in the play, skate about 175 feet, receive a pass at the far circle and bury it home (all undetected and untouched). Charlie played a 200-foot game, was defensively responsible, and covered a lot of ground due to his long and efficient skating stride. Very deceptive in nature, he can slip away from coverage and has the ability to utilize both a wrist and snapshot that are clearly hard and accurate.
Colin Frank (RW, R, 5’7″, 170, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 03/22/2006, Connecticut)
Game Rating
A-
Colin Frank is a compact, two-way forward who leverages his quickness to contribute significantly to the team’s offense and defense. His agility allows him to navigate the ice effectively, often creating space for himself and teammates to operate. He demonstrated his scoring prowess by notching the first goal of the game, showcasing his ability to find openings in the net. While he was occasionally thwarted by the opposing goalie, Colin’s competitive drive and vision enabled him to create multiple scoring opportunities.
1 Viewing
Comments: Colin finished a pretty tic-tac-toe goal, as he slipped one home, at the near post, just under the bar and over the glove of Charrois for his 14th of the season. He added two helpers as well, making a fantastic read out of the far side corner, to find Arend streaking all alone from behind the play, right over the offensive blue line, with no defensive coverage in sight. Despite his 5’7′ and 175 lbs stature, Colin comes to compete every night and what he lacks in size, he most certainly makes up for with, a balanced skating effort, grit along the wall, and hockey IQ. He should flirt with the 20-goal mark before the season’s end.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images