Goals have come in bushels this fall in Northeast Iowa, as the Fighting Saints have scored a USHL-leading 66 – 16 more than the next closest team.

Dubuque (10-2-0) sits second in the Eastern Conference with 20 points and remained unbeaten on home ice Thursday night with a 4-3 shootout win over Des Moines. The Fighting Saints are 8-2-0 over their past 10 and have scored four or more goals in eight of their first 12 contests.

However, it hasn’t been a one man show, as seven Dubuque skaters have 10 or more points. 

“We're not just leaning on one or two guys and we've got scoring depth and a group of guys willing to embrace their roles, and I think that's been a huge component of our success," said Dubuque head coach Evan Dixon, who is in his second season leading the club and seventh year with the organization.

Ekman called game in the shootout. #HalosHigh pic.twitter.com/IpLKw6F6L8

— Dubuque Fighting Saints (@fightingsaints) October 31, 2025

Make no mistake Masun Fleece – who scored twice in Thursday’s win – has been tremendous and leads the league with 17 points (9-8-17), and rookie Hayden Russell is tied for second with 16 (3-13-16). Fleece and Teddy Merrill are tied for second in the league with nine goals too.

Yet while the offense has gotten most of the attention, Dubuque has also allowed the USHL’s fifth-fewest goals (34). Vojtech Hambalek is 7-1-0 with a .909 save percentage and Owen Crudale (3-1-0) sports a .902, and Dubuque's blue line has once again ranks among the league's best.

"When you look at the games that we've won, we've won a few by big margins, but we've also had several closer ones and different guys are stepping up at both ends of the ice," Dixon said. "I think we've got a good mix of D that are leading the way, competing hard and defending hard, and we've been able to maybe turn some of that into offense the other way. And then we've got two really strong goalies that we can lean on.

"So I just think everyone has taken big steps already this season and we're a team that creates our offense by playing the game the right way and our play without the puck."

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are 8-1 on the season and receiving outstanding goaltending from Owen Crudale and Vojtěch Hambálek. Hear from BOTH of them on the latest episode of Goalies Are...

📺: https://t.co/C0qHl24958@fightingsaints | @USHL #HalosHigh #USHL pic.twitter.com/HDGVASEgNz

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) October 24, 2025

Dixon’s club made quite the statement in Pittsburgh, opening the season with 10-2 and 5-2 wins over Sioux City and Waterloo at the Fall Classic. Dubuque opened the season with eight straight wins after a 4-0-0 preseason.

Dubuque (41-18-1-2) finished second in the East last season with 85 points, just one behind Youngstown. The Fighting Saints reached the conference finals for a second consecutive season and carry a 14-year playoff streak into this season.

While there’s plenty of season left, it’s an impressive start, and one the Fighting Saints will look to build on.

"We're happy with our start but the biggest thing is make sure we keep ourselves planted where we are and maximize every day and each opportunity we have to improve, both as a group and individually," Dixon said. "There was maybe a little bit more unknown heading into this season than any other year I've been with this organization, but everyone has stepped up and embraced their roles, and they're making sure we're playing to our standards. And I think we believe we're capable of being an elite team that has a chance to do something special this year."

Dubuque heads to Green Bay on Saturday for a 6:05 p.m. tilt against the Gamblers.

The Fighting Saints will have a three-in-three next weekend as well, heading to Cedar Rapids on Friday and Sioux City on Saturday and Sunday. All four games will be available here on Flo.

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