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by Jason Reckamp ‘Hockey Stop’ Correspondent
The winning streak is over. But don't think for a minute that is going to slowdown the St. Louis Jr. Blues. If anything, the Jr. Blues' 3-0 loss to the Dubuque Thunderbirds on Saturday will fuel another fire. Heading into last weekend's matchups, St. Louis was the lone undefeated junior hockey team in the country. While the loss spoiled a 26-game unbeaten streak, it certainly doesn't change the Jr. Blues' hope for another championship. “They were two good hockey games against Dubuque,” said Jr. Blues coach Jack Behan. “They were very even and, honestly, both could have gone either way.” While the Jr. Blues players were dealing with the pressure and national media attention to stay undefeated, Dubuque had nothing to lose and everything to gain at Affton Ice Rink. And the team played like it. The shutout loss was St. Louis' first since a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Peoria on Dec. 9, 2007. “The mood in the locker room (before) Saturday's game was subdued, quiet, laidback,” Behan said. “I think about it now and I haven't seen them like that all year. “After losing that game, they were bouncing off the walls on Sunday. It was like nothing happened. That's great to see. They got done with all that undefeated garbage and could get back to work.” The win on Sunday was a big lift. It put the Jr. Blues (27-1) back in the driver's seat in the Central States Hockey League standings with 52 points – 12 ahead of Dubuque (21-5), Pittsburgh (21-4) and Cleveland (21-5). “We were flying on Sunday,” said Behan, whose squad outshot Dubuque 31-11 through the first two periods. “(There were) playing like they've played all year. “That was a big game. We lose that one and that puts Dubuque right on our heels. Now we've distanced ourselves a bit again.” According to Behan, the Thunderbirds put more pressure on the Jr. Blues defensemen than he's seen all season. And that's a defense – led by captain Barclay Berner (1 goal, 15 assists), assistant captain Eric Aldag (1G, 6A), Ryan Trenz (3G, 12A), Sean Gammage (4G, 8A), Steve Terry (1G, 9A) and Joe Bowler (2G, 7A) – that had allowed just 35 goals in 26 games heading in. “I think so,” Behan said. “Cleveland has some good forwards and Pittsburgh has a strong forecheck. But I think the biggest thing that challenged us was their defense. They don't give you much room. Dubuque is a good team.” The Thunderbirds were able to stifle an offense that consists of four of the league's top five leading scorers – Chris Hutton (25G, 32A), Ryan McGrath (25G, 22A), Nick Saracino (23G, 34A) and Tim Tankeev (15G, 27A). Next up for the Jr. Blues is the CSHL Showcase this weekend at the Quad City Sports Center in Davenport, Iowa. St. Louis faces Pittsburgh Friday at 2 p.m., Cleveland Saturday at 3 p.m., then a rematch with Pittsburgh on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Cleveland Monday at 11 a.m. “The biggest thing is they know what they need to do,” Behan said. “They are a good group, and they're a confident group. We're up on a positive note. A bunch of scouts will be there watching them, we have the marquee matchup every game. They'll be ready.”
Sunday, Dec. 13 Dubuque 0 2 1 -- 3 St. Louis 0 3 2 -- 5
First period – No scoring. Penalties – Andrew Pierson, Dubuque (roughing), 0:21; Patrick Gregory, St. Louis (checking from behind), 6:34; Troy Conlon, Dubuque (interference), 8:36; Justin Roux, St. Louis (roughing), 11:07; Jay Roux, St. Louis (slashing), 15:52. Second period – 1, Dubuque, Tristen Musser (Hunter Brown, Marcus Andary), 10:00 (pp). 2, St. Louis, Nathan Kohlenhoefer, 13:54. 3, Dubuque, Ryan Bachman, 14:56. 4, St. Louis, Patrick Gregory (Paul Zuke), 15:18. 5, St. Louis, Ryan Trenz (Jay Roux, Ryan McGrath), 19:43 (pp). Penalties – Hunter Brown, Dubuque (cross checking), 0:37; Jay Roux, St. Louis (roughing), 5:41; Austin Parle, Dubuque (roughing), 5:41; Samuel Smith, Dubuque (roughing), 5:41; Troy Conlon, Dubuque (roughing), 6:59; Ryan McGrath, St. Louis (slashing), 8:33; David Russ, Dubuque (slashing), 10:11; Nathan Kohlenhoefer, St. Louis (fighing major), 15:26; Tristan Musser, Dubuque (fighting major), 15:26; Jay Roux, St. Louis (delay of game), 15:32; Lucas Swardenski, Dubuque (delay of game), 15:32; Kyle Reinarts, Dubuque (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:40; Peter Nesper, Dubuque (holding), 19:00. Third period – 6, St. Louis, Jay Roux, 6:56 (pp). 7, Dubuque, Troy Conlon (Blain McBirney), 11:49 (pp). 8, St. Louis, Chris Hutton (Nick Saracino), 17:11 (pp). Penalties – Eric Aldag, St. Louis (holding), 3:02; David Russ, Dubuque (checking from behind), 6:38; Sean Gammage, St. Louis (roughing), 10:57; Nick Saracino, St. Louis (slashing), 13:09; Lucas Swardenski, Dubuque (charging), 16:51. Shots on goal – Dubuque 4-7-14 25. St. Louis 14-17-8 39.
Saturday, Dec. 12 Dubuque 1 0 2 -- 3 St. Louis 0 0 0 -- 0
First period – 1, Dubuque, Daniel Kolenda (Kyle Reinarts, Jacob Plutowski), 15:10. Penalties – Peter Nesper, Dubuque (hooking), 0:25; David Russ, Dubuque (checking from behind), 3:24; Barclay Berner, St. Louis (elbowing), 7:34; Blain McBirney, Dubuque (checking from behind), 7:49. Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Barclay Berner, St. Louis (elbowing), 7:58; Ryan McGrath, St. Louis (high sticking), 15:17. Third period – 2, Dubuque, Ryan Bachman (Kyle Reinarts), 9:09. 3, Dubuque, Ryan Bachman (Michael Fazio, Lucas Swardenski), 11:40. Penalties – Marcus Andary, Dubuque (charging), 4:41; Justin Roux, St. Louis (slashing), 12:17; Ryan McGrath, St. Louis (hooking), 13:39; Sean Gammage, St. Louis (cross checking), 14:49; Ryan Bachman, Dubuque (high sticking), 15:43; Jay Roux, St. Louis (slashing), 17:54; Tristan Musser, Dubuque (checking from behind), 17:54. Shots on goal – Dubuque 8-8-11 27. St. Louis 10-4-11 25.
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