Alexx Privitera scored a hat trick and Brett Boeing had three assists when the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League secured a 4-1 victory over Dynamo Shinnik of Belarus in the bronze medal game of the 2013 Junior Club World Cup on Saturday at Omsk Arena in Omsk, Russia.
The Fighting Saints, who finished the tournament 3-2, become the second team from the USHL to medal in the tournament in two seasons. In 2012, the Waterloo Black Hawks took home the silver medal. The Fighting Saints will now return home to Iowa in the United States to prepare for their preseason opener on Sept. 8 against the Green Bay Gamblers at Mystique Community Ice Center.
In the three-year history of the Junior Club World Cup, the team representing the United States is the only team to claim a medal twice.
Privitera opened the scoring 5:45 into the first period on a shot from the right point that eluded goalie Glen Ageyev. The Fighting Saints extended the lead to 3-0 in the second on goals by Andrew Gaus and Privitera, while outshooting its opponent, 15-3. Guas' goal came at 6:25 off a two-on-one rush and Privitera struck at 9:50 on a wrist shot from the point. Privitera told reporters after the game that Dylan Gambrell had deflected his shot in the slot, but the goal stood as his.
Dynamo Shinnik had its best opportunities in the third, outshooting Dubuque, 12-6. Arthur Brey did a masterful job of keeping the Belarus team at bay, however, finishing the game with 21 saves for the Fighting Saints. Privitera closed out the Dubuque scoring with a power-play goal at 8:06 of the final period off a slap shot from the blue line.