Dubuque Fighting Saints Gaber “Player of the Year”

(Photo courtesy of the Dubuque Fighting Saints)

We want to congratulate Riese Gaber of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in winning Player of the Year".  Here's a portion of the official release from the Saints.

Riese Gaber became the first Dubuque Fighting Saints player to win USHL Player of the Year honors and just the third to win USHL Forward of the Year after a historic 2019-20 season. Gaber was honored yesterday with an All-USHL First Team bid and now picks up the league’s most prestigious honor with Player of the Year.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Gaber. “This is something where I know my hard work has paid off and I could not be happier. I wouldn’t be where I am without all my past teammates and coaches. I want to especially thank Kalle Larsson and Oliver David for my success in Dubuque. I could not be prouder to be a Saint for Life.”

Gaber’s 55 points this season put him in the top-10 in the USHL, along with two other Fighting Saints. His 34 goals were best in the USHL by a wide margin. Gaber electrified the Dubuque crowd regularly with his patented dangles, speed and physicality.Gaber’s hard work showed this season on the stat sheet and it now shows in the record books as well. He became the sixth Fighting Saint to hit 100 points in his career. He also recorded his 100^th USHL game and 200^th junior hockey game during the season. Most notably, he became the Saints Tier-1 leader in career goals, surpassing the mark of 55 held by Seamus Malone.

Gaber finishes his Dubuque career in rarified air amongst many of the statistical categories and now is listed as the only Saint to win Player of the Year honors. The award has been given every year in the USHL since the 1983-84 season.