Jaxon Castor Named CCM/USHL Goaltender of the Week
(Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints)
CHICAGO — Dubuque Fighting Saints goaltender Jaxon Castor was named the CCM/USHL Goaltender of the Week for his exploits over the weekend in Youngstown. His strong play led to a shutout of the Phantoms on Friday night, 3-0, and he followed up the effort with an efficient 22-save effort in a 4-1 win on Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.
Jaxon Castor
In total, he denied 40 of 41 opportunities that headed his way.
“This is part of what you play for,” said Castor, upon learning of the award. “I’m honored to have been recognized, and I’m going to keep playing good hockey the rest of the way.”
Castor, an Arizona State University commit, reversed his personal fortunes after losing four consecutive decisions by winning these last two at Youngstown in decisive fashion. His goals-against average dropped to 2.13, and his save percentage rose a full 20 percentage points to .912 after his award-winning weekend. Over his last three starts, he has stopped 63 of the last 66 shots fired his way (.954 save percentage), going 2-1-0 in that span.
Only four other goaltenders in the USHL have played as many, or more, games than Castor has started (8). Of those qualified, he has the second-lowest goals-against average, and the third-highest save percentage.
Catch Castor and the Fighting Saints this weekend in a back-to-back with the Waterloo Black Hawks starting on Friday, October 28 at Young Arena, and then at Our House on Saturday, October 29 for our Pet Supply Drive, sponsored by That’s My Dog! Bring pet supplies and other practical cleaning supplies to the door to benefit the Dubuque and Jackson County Humane Societies. For tickets, go to DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
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About the Dubuque Fighting Saints
The Fighting Saints returned to USHL play in the brand new Mystique Community Ice Center during the 2010-11 season, winning the Clark Cup in their first year back in the USHL. The Fighting Saints continued their success with a historic season in 201213, finishing with a franchise best 4511‐8 record. The team claimed the Anderson Cup as the USHL’s regular season champions for the first time in 30 years, and also earned the Clark Cup for second time in three seasons. In August 2013, the team took the Bronze Medal while representing the United States at the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia. The Fighting Saints have reached the Clark Cup Final three times in the past six seasons. The club has produced a number of players that moved on to NCAA Division I hockey and have been drafted by NHL teams, including Zemgus Girgensons, Johnny Gaudreau and Mike Matheson. The original Fighting Saints competed in the USHL for 21 seasons (1980–2001). The club won the Clark Cup as playoff champions on three occasions (1981, 1983, 1985) under head coach Jack Barzee. One of the most well-known alumni of the original Fighting Saints was Gary Suter, a 17‐year NHL veteran, two-time Olympian, Stanley Cup champion, and member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
About Northern Lights Hockey, LLC
Northern Lights Hockey, LLC is the company that owns and operates the USHL franchise in Dubuque, Iowa. The owners of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level. Philip Falcone, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of HC2 Holdings, Inc. and former part owner of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, is the company’s principal owner. The ownership group also includes Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Mark Falcone, and Brad Kwong, Managing Partner of Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. Philip Falcone, Chiarelli and Kwong all played hockey together at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. The group also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D. Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company. Dr. Field has practiced orthopedic surgery for 30 years and has been the driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. Dr. Field also owned the Dubuque Thunderbirds, the USA Hockey Tier III team that competed in the Central States Hockey League through the 2009–10 Season.
