Dubuque Fighting Saints (1980–2001)
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.
| Dubuque Fighting Saints | |
|---|---|
| City | Dubuque, Iowa |
| League | USHL |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Operated | 1980–2001 |
| Home arena | Five Flags Center |
| Franchise history | |
| 1962–1980 | Waterloo Black Hawks |
| 1980–2001 | Dubuque Fighting Saints |
| 2001–2002 | Tulsa Crude |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | Anderson Cup 2 (1980–81, 1982–83) |
| Playoff championships | Clark Cup 3 (1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85) |
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.