Game played on 10/10/2024.
General Game Notes: Dubuque showcased an impressive offensive display in a 7-4 victory over Fargo, executing a balanced attack that featured contributions from multiple players. The Fighting Saints set the tone early with a goal from Colin Frank just 1:46 into the game, and their relentless pressure throughout proved difficult for the Force to handle. Despite Fargo’s efforts to keep the game within reach, including goals from Brady Arneson and Elias Zimmerman, Dubuque’s quick transitions and precision led to key goals in crucial moments. Fargo battled back but couldn’t match Dubuque’s offensive depth or capitalize on enough opportunities, resulting in a dominant victory for the Fighting Saints.
Heikki Ruohonen (LW, L, 6’2″, 206, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 06/19/2006, Harvard)
Grade: A-
Comments: Heikki assisted on the second and third goals. On the second goal he drove wide, drawing the defender outside of the dots so he could put a pass on the tape of Van Vliet leaving him with time and space. He scored the sixth goal by kicking a pass up from his skate at the blue line and accelerating in alone. Made a great fake and while going full speed and left himself with an easy finish. Heikki was strong in the face-off circle and drove wide down the wall with speed and strength holding off defenders before finding open line-mates. When he was in the middle of the ice he would middle lane drive opening up space behind him. He ended the game with a goal and 2 assists.
Michael Barron (C, R, 5’7″, 163, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 07/12/2006, Arizona State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Michael played the game with pace and heart. While on the penalty kill at the end of the 1st period he had a big blocked shot. He got up to top speed quickly and used crossovers to increase speed and make himself more elusive. Barron scored the 3rd goal for Dubuque when he got the puck on the wall on his offside. He released a shot, across his body, from the boards and beat the goalie high over the glove. He back checked with the same speed as he goes on offense and outmuscled a much bigger opponent. He won the puck and transitioned to offense where he attacked the triangle of the defender before losing control of the puck.
Colin Frank (RW, R, 5’7″, 159, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 03/22/2006, Connecticut)
Grade: A-
Comments: Frank had an impressive game. He started the scoring by taking a drop pass right at the blue line with a defender in front of him he was able to change the angle enough to shoot between the defenders stick and unleashed a wrist shot that beat the goalie above his pad on the glove side. He added another goal on a 2 on 1. He drove the net to open up a pass and was given a back door tap in for his effort. Colin added an assist on the second goal when he got the puck in his own zone and threw the puck out wide to a streaking Van Vliet to spring him on a break away. Besides being all over the score sheet he was solid on the penalty kill, realizing when guys had their backs turned and when to apply pressure . Even up by 3 goals he sacrificed his body and blocked a shot in the third period and exploded out of the zone getting a pass and going in on a breakaway. Colin was shifty and hard to cover all night in the offensive zone. He was quick to transition from defense to offense while also playing a responsible game defensively.
Joshua Niedermayer (D, L, 6’0″, 186, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 02/20/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Josh had a 3 assist game stemming from making good first passes to forwards with speed. A smooth and effortless looking skater, he joined the rush when he could and seemed comfortable playing in the offensive zone. Ran the power-play as the quarterback up top and kept the high killer guessing. He worked to the middle of the ice and read the killer before distributing the puck to the other side. Josh was always an option to pass to make the game easier for his partner and forwards.
Lucas Van Vliet (LW, L, 6’2″, 181, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 01/24/2006, Michigan State)
Grade: A
Comments: Lucas was dominant in this game. He started the game with a one touch drop pass to Frank to open the scoring. He scored the second goal of the game on the power play. On the break in he drove the middle and took the pass and was able to take two steps and beat the goalie low glove side. Lucas scored again later in the game on a good read to fly the zone. He let the pass go off the wall behind him knowing it would come out in front of him and he could keep his speed. After handling the puck he continued to drive and beat the defenseman wide and got the goalie to commit so he could bring it to his backhand goal. He played the off side on the power play and attacked lanes to pull and shoot. He was also finding passing seams on the power play creating scoring chances with his vision. Lucas was a threat every time he was on the ice and played with speed and deception.
Brady Arneson (LW, L, 5’11”, 176, Fargo Force, 02/11/2005, Maine)
Grade: B
Comments: Brady started the scoring for the Force. Shortly after going down 2-0 Brady covered for a pinching defenseman. While driving back into the zone he got a good pass from Butella and got a bounce off a sprawled out defenseman to get the puck in the back of the net. On multiple occasions he had awareness to be the 3rd man high in the offensive zone leading to scoring chances. Brady was patient and able to get behind defenders to give himself opportunities to get shots away. In the third period, as the third man high again, had to take off and back check all the way back to break up a chance for the Saints.
Peter Cisar (LW, L, 6’0″, 183, Fargo Force, 03/30/2005, Maine)
Grade: A-
Comments: Peter got himself into the action early. He was in the face of the opponents and starting scrums after whistles. He had a nasty side to his game and played with fire. He looked to finish through the body on the forecheck and back checked with the same urgency. Peter had a good shift and created a couple opportunities in the second period but had a poor line change which led to a 2 on 1 and a goal. He made up for it with Fargo’s 3rd goal. He scored the same way he played the whole night. Peter went to the front of the net, initiated contact and was able to find a rebound that he elevated on his backhand. In the third period he was tripped and thought a penalty should have been called, instead of complaining he got up and back checked and caught a Saints player with his head down and laid a big- clean hit. He played on the edge all night and was the best player for the Force.
Sam Laurila (D, L, 6’1″, 188, Fargo Force, 09/02/2006, North Dakota)
Grade: B-
Comments: Sam was a good director of traffic coming back into his own zone. He communicated where he wanted his back checkers to go and who to pick up. He was nasty in front of his own net, making people pay a price to get near his goalie. Smooth skater with good edge work and looked to receive pucks and move north up the ice.
Elias Zimmerman (C, L, 6’6″, 218, Fargo Force, 08/08/2005, UMass Amherst)
Grade: B
Comments: Elias laid a big hit on the forecheck early in the first period. In the second period, while on the penalty kill, he came off the bench and received a pass and drove wide on a 2 on 1. He was able to freeze the goalie and take a step and beat the goalie high short side for his first goal of the season. Elias was strong as the middle man on the penalty kill. On the rush he kicked the puck out wide and drove the middle. Using his big frame he was able to beat the defenseman and get the puck back as he deflected a pass on net for a grade A scoring chance. He did look to run out of energy late in the second and beginning of the third but finished the game strong.
Eero Butella (RW, R, 6’3″, 181, Fargo Force, 02/21/2006, Northeastern)
B+
Comments: Eero used his big body to get to the front of the net and take the goalkeeper’s eyes away. On the first goal he was net front popped out to be an option and made a tape to tape pass in the slot to Arneson, who was able to finish. On the power play he created opportunities for the other players by being strong on the net front making a defender stay with him. In the third period he drove down the wall in the offensive zone. He got knocked down but got right back up and moved to the open space. He received the puck and immediately threw it on net for a tip and a goal.
Jan Spunar (G, L, 6’3″, 185, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 05/30/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Spunar was able to demonstrate a narrow, upright stance, a high glove, and quiet feet in his setup. He is big and his movements are controlled and he maintains excellent puck tracking, solid rebound control, and terrific timing. His lateral movement is impressive for his size, allowing him to stay square to the shooter throughout all movements and avoid sliding out of position. He plays at the top of his crease and remains puck-centered, reading shot threats extremely well and hitting his spots early. His rebound control could have been better on a lot of shots but on both wings and low shots to the pads it was commendable, and he tracks the puck well through traffic without sacrificing positioning.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images