DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS: Dubuque enters the weekend comfortably in second place in the USHL's Eastern Conference with a 17-6-2-2 record, good for 38 total points on the season. 

The Fighting Saints are led by a quartet of forwards who all find themselves in the top-20 league scorers. Stephen Halliday leads the league with 45 points (17g-28a) in 27 games for the Saints. Veteran forward Connor Kurth has matched his 17 tallies and added 22 assists for 39 points, good for third-most in the USHL.

Ryan Beck (7g-24a), Tristan Lemyre (15g-13a) and Kenny Connors (11g-15a) also add to the Fighting Saints offensive attack. 

In net, Dubuque has split the majority of the season between Paxton Geisel and Philip Svedeback. Geisel has seen more action, appearing in 18 games for Dubuque and has posted a 12-3-0-2 record, 2.95 GAA and .905 save percentage. Svedeback has 10 games under his belt, collecting a 3.61 goals-against average and .902 save percentage on the campaign.

This weekend's contests will be the first of the season between the U18s and Dubuque. The two sides will battle only once more this year - a Sunday matinee on March 6 at USA Hockey Arena in Michigan.