The Dubuque Fighting Saints were a Tier I junior ice hockey team that played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 1980 to 2001. The team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to become the Tulsa Crude in 2001 citing low attendance and rising costs. A new team would use the same name when Dubuque was granted an expansion franchise in the USHL in 2010.
The Saints glory years lasted from 1980 to 1981 through to 1984–85, when they played under the coaching supervision of Jack Barzee who left to become a central figure in the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Staff, and later, received the Lester Patrick Trophy from USA Hockey and the NHL for his exceptional contribution to the development of hockey in the United States. During their first season in 1980–81, the Fighting Saints record was 52–11–2, a league record. In 1982–83, the Saints went on to win their second national championship in three years.
History Prior to 1979, the USHL was a semi-professional hockey league operating in midwestern United States. The Waterloo Black Hawks made the transition to a junior hockey team in 1979 as the league switched to junior hockey as the associated costs with paying professionals were rising. After one season, head coach and general manager, Jack Barzee, had the Black Hawks relocated to Dubuque, Iowa, and renamed the team the Fighting Saints. The team would prove to be very successful under Barzee and would win two national championships, three playoff championships, and two regular season titles before Barzee left in 1985.
After Barzee's departure, the team began to struggle on and off the ice. The team's record decreased every season until it finally finished last in 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons. It was not until Chris and Peter Ferraro joined the team in 1990–91 did the team start to play competitively again. Coach Cary Eades took over in 1991–92 and brought the team back to contention including a National Tournament championship in 1992–93 before he left in 1993. Owner Brian Gallagher would eventually take over as head coach in the 1997–98 season and the team would only make the playoffs once in his tenure. In 2001, Gallagher announced he was moving the team to Tulsa, Oklahoma, citing rising costs and low attendance. He renamed the team the Tulsa Crude but only lasted one season before ceasing operations.
Seasons records Season GP W L T OTL SOL PTS GF GA PIM Regular season results Playoff Results 1980–81 48 38 9 1 * * 77 351 187 -- 1st of 4, Southern Conference1st of 8, USHLAnderson Cup Champions Clark Cup Champions 1981–82 48 29 19 0 * * 58 274 232 -- 2nd of 7 1982–83 48 39 8 1 * * 79 350 217 -- 1st of 7Anderson Cup Champions Clark Cup Champions 1983–84 48 20 23 2 * * 45 227 246 -- 5th of 8 1984–85 48 30 14 0 * * 64 267 232 -- 3rd of 10 Clark Cup Champions 1985–86 48 27 15 1 5 * 60 247 190 -- 4th of 9 1986–87 48 25 21 1 1 * 52 263 236 -- 5th of 10 1987–88 48 6 39 3 0 * 15 158 349 -- 9th of 10 1988–89 48 7 40 1 0 * 15 185 380 -- 10th of 10 1989–90 48 8 39 0 1 * 17 152 323 -- 10th of 10 1990–91 48 22 26 0 * * 46 245 222 -- 6th of 10 1991–92 48 27 19 2 * * 58 256 212 -- 4th of 10 1992–93 48 30 11 5 2 * 67 229 163 -- 3rd of 10 1993–94 48 29 17 1 1 * 61 224 177 -- 5th of 10 1994–95 48 24 18 4 2 * 54 175 169 -- 6th of 11 1995–96 46 15 28 1 2 * 33 145 214 -- 10th of 11 1996–97 54 17 34 0 3 * 37 157 211 1700 4th of 6, South Division Did not qualify 1997–98 54 19 36 * 0 1 30 159 238 1657 6th of 6, South Division Did not qualify 1998–99 56 22 32 0 2 * 46 164 217 1232 3rd of 4, East Division Lost Quarterfinals 0–3 to Omaha Lancers 1999–00 58 16 39 * * 3 35 141 230 1248 7th of 7, East Division Did not qualify 2000–01 56 15 37 0 4 * 34 148 219 879 5th of 6, East Division Did not qualifyTulsa Crude 2001–02 61 12 43 0 6 * 30 121 237 1185 7th of 7, West Division Did not qualify (*) = Depending on the year, league rules changed often in regards to use of Ties (T), Overtime Losses (OTL), and Shootout Losses (SOL). Not all categories were used each year.
-- = Penalty Minutes (PIM) were not a recorded league stat until the 1996–97 season.
Championships Clark Cup: Awarded each year to the winner of the USHL's Tier I Junior Hockey playoff champions. Dubuque won this Cup three of its first five years as a franchise. 1980–81 1982–83 1984–85
Anderson Cup: Won by the team that accumulates the most points in the standings at the end of the regular season. Dubuque won the Anderson Cup in two of the franchise's first three seasons. 1980–81 1982–83
Alumni National Hockey League Chris Ferraro (1990–91, 1991–92) Played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, and Washington Capitals 4th round NHL draft choice by the New York Rangers Represented the United States at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1992 and 1993, and at the World Championships in 2003 Peter Ferraro (1990–91, 1991–92) Played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals 1st round NHL draft choice by the New York Rangers Mark Mowers (1993–94) Played for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and Anaheim Ducks Undrafted from the University of New Hampshire Gary Suter (1981–82, 1982–83) NHL Rookie of the Year, 1985–86 Played for the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, and the San Jose Sharks 9th round NHL draft choice (out of 12 rounds) by the Calgary Flames Two time Olympian for the United States including the silver medal in 2002. Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 Landon Wilson (1992–93) Played for the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Dallas Stars 1st round NHL draft choice by the Toronto Maple Leafs Andy Wozniewski (1998–99) Played for Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins Undrafted from the University of Wisconsin - Madison
European leagues Jimmy Andersson - Bofors IK (Sweden) Mike Fallon - 1980–81, 1982–83 Saints - Bofors IK (Sweden) Chris Guy - 1980–81 Saints - Nijmegen Tigers (Holland) Steven Janakas - 1980–81 Saints - Saterbagen Saints (Sweden) Jozef Lukac, - 1999–2000 Saints - BK Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic) Micah Wouters - Nijmegen Tigers (Holland)
American Hockey League Akil Adams - Carolina Monarchs Michael Ayers - Manitoba Moose Sean Berens - Springfield Falcons Peter Cermak - Hershey Bears Kord Cernich - Capital District Islanders Matt Doman - Saint John Flames Luk Fulghum - Toronto Marlies Jason Guerriero - Milwaukee Admirals Jim Mullin - Worcester IceCats Nick Naumenko - Grand Rapids Griffins Greg Poss - Maine Mariners Ken Scuderi - Portland Pirates Jeff State - Hershey Bears David Vallieres - Kentucky Thoroughblades Kory Wright - 1982–83 Saints -Moncton Hawks
ECHL Nick Anderson - Las Vegas Wranglers Todd Barclay - Pensacola Ice Pilots Josh Blackburn - Columbia Inferno Todd Cary - Richmond Renegades Chris Cerrella - Baton Rouge Kingfish Bernie Chimel - Wheeling Nailers Trent Clark - San Diego Gulls Jon Foster - Wheeling Nailers Jon Gaskins - Mississippi Sea Wolves Forrest Gore - Peoria Rivermen Zach Ham - South Carolina Stingrays Matt Herhal - Reading Royals Kurt Kabat - Hampton Roads Admirals Josh Kern - Peoria Rivermen Jack Kowal - Miami Matadors Jeff Kozakowski - Toledo Storm Phil Lewandowski - Long Beach Ice Dogs Kevin Magnuson - Roanoke Express Chris Masters - Trenton Titans Peter Masters - Dayton Bombers Matt McElwee - Toledo Storm Jeff Mikesch - Louisville RiverFrogs Sean Molina - Cincinnati Cyclones Pete Pierman - New Orleans Brass Andy Powers - South Carolina Stingrays Jasen Rintala - Greensboro Generals Tom Rouleau - Wheeling Nailers John Sadowski - Mobile Mysticks Seabrook Satterlund - Toledo Storm Trent Schachle - Dayton Bombers Joe Smaza - Wheeling Nailers Chris Thompson - Dayton Bombers Mitch Vig - Mobile Mysticks
International Hockey League Geoff Collard - Orlando Solar Bears Bryan Collins - 1980–81 Saints - Fort Wayne Komets Tim Breslin - Chicago Wolves Steve MacSwain - 1982–83 Saints - Salt Lake Golden Eagles Curt Voegeli - 1980–81 Saints - Peoria Prancers
Other leagues Jayme Adduono - Columbus Cottonmouths (Central Hockey League (CHL)) Grady Ambrose - Lakeland Ice Warriors (Sunshine Hockey League) Anthony Blumer - Elmira Jackals (United Hockey League (UHL)) Brandon Carlson - Anchorage Aces (West Coast Hockey League (WCHL)) Jaroslav Cesky - Tulsa Oilers (CHL) Brendon Clark - Roanoke Valley Vipers (UHL) Christian Fletcher - San Angelo Saints (CHL) Maurice Hall - Memphis RiverKings (CHL) Rich Hansen - Amarillo Gorillas (CHL) Wynn Henricksen - Odessa Jackalopes (Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL)) Brian Hill - Madison Monsters (UHL) Anders Johnson - Knoxville Speed (UHL) Adam Kragthorpe - Quad City Mallards (UHL) Brian LaVack - B.C. Icemen (UHL) John Lex - 1980–81 Saints - Erie Golden Blades (Atlantic Coast Hockey League) Skeeter Moore - 1981–1982 Saints - San Angelo Outlaws (CHL) Darren Semeniuk - Anchorage Aces (WCHL) Joe Statkus - Rockford IceHogs (UHL) Alex Todd - Lubbock Cotton Kings (CHL) Eric Tuott - Phoenix Mustangs (WCHL) Paul Williams - Anchorage Aces (WCHL)
References
External links Current Dubuque Fighting Saints Team History