The Saints Win Dubuque's Heart

The regular-season games are in the books, but the Dubuque Fighting Saints keep winning in their first year on the ice.

They skated out of the regular season as the best team in the western conference of the United States Hockey League, selling out four of their games.

Today, the U.S.H.L named one of their players Rookie of the Year.

But the Fighting Saints also stole the hearts of people in Dubuque.

Every time they sang the National Anthem. Every time the players took the ice, the fans showed up.

And as the Saints started winning, over and over again, even non-fans took notice.

Saints Vice President of Business Operations, Stephanie Henderson said, "So many people who have never been exposed to it caught the fever.  It's what you wish for."

More than 75-thousand fans filled the seats during the regular season. That's an average of 25 hundred fans per game.

They bought tickets and treats and fell in love with the team.

Henderson said, "Who would have thought our first year being back in this market we would get as far as we've gotten in such a short time."

And it seems the community is taking notice.

Hockey Fan, Jake Noonan said, "I was actually at my brother's baseball game last night and I head a few people talk about the Saints and the play off games."

Managers say these players are good people and involved with community. But a lot of people showed up for the games to see the brand new Mystique Ice Arena.

Henderson said, "This facility is amazing. I'm hoping that more people will come just to check out the facility and fall in love with the hockey."

Henderson says no matter the reason, it's exciting hockey and she says the Saints are a team the city can be proud of.