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Des Moines Buccaneers

Former Bucs Garnering Hobey Baker Consideration

January 28, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


Three former Des Moines Buccaneers are on the short list of NCAA men's hockey players up for the Hobey Baker Award, given out to the top NCAA men's hockey player. Right now over 60 players are on the ballot that the fans will help narrow down to the top 10. You can vote by going to Facebook and searching "The Hobey Baker Award" or by clicking here: https://hobeybaker.fbapp.io/vote?from=user_wall&ref_id=t9y3qc.

Defenseman Ethan Prow of St. Cloud State University played for the Buccaneers in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. In 105 games for Des Moines Prow scored 10 goals and 46 points and was an Alternate Captain for the Bucs. Since moving on to NCAA hockey, Ethan has played 134 games at SCSU and has scored 16 goals and 86 points in his Husky career. Prow has played in a Frozen Four as well as won a regular season championship in St. Cloud's last season in the WCHA and the inaugural season of the NCHC. Prow's Huskies have won at least one NCAA tournament game every season he has played under head coach Bob Motzko. This season Prow is averaging over a point per game (5 goals and 25 points in 23 games played) and is tied for most points in the NCAAs for a blueliner. Prow is a big contributor at both ends of the ice and has helped St. Cloud climb to 2nd in the nation in goals per game yet remain stingy as the 7th best team in the nation in goals against average. Prow and the Huskies are currently ranked 3rd in the nation according to the USCHO.com poll.

Providence goaltender Nick Ellis played just one season with the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2012-2013, compiling a record of 12-12-4 with a .909 save percentage and 3.41 goals against average. In 35 games played for the Friars, Ellis has a record of 20-6-5 with a .923 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average. Nick had big shoes to fill this season as his freshman and sophomore years he backed up goaltender Jon Gilles, who led Providence to a 2015 NCAA men's hockey National Championship, but in his first year as the starter Ellis has taken advantage of his opportunity, going 15-4-4 with a .928 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average. Ellis has played in all but one of Providence's games to this point in the season and is a big reason Providence is 12th in Division-I college hockey in goals against per game. The Friars are just one spot behind Prow's Huskies in the USCHO.com poll, currently ranked fourth.

Drake Caggiula is a forward for the University of North Dakota, though of the former Buccaneers trio up for the Hobey Baker this season, he had the shortest career in Des Moines. Caggiula played in four of the first five games of Des Moines' 2011-2012 regular season, registering 1 goal and 2 points, before heading back to play for the Stouffville Spirit in the OJHL. In four seasons with the University of North Dakota Caggiula has 52 goals and 106 points and this season in 23 games his 15 goals are tied for 10th in the nation while his 30 points are tied for 12th. Caggiula and the University of North Dakota won the NCHC regular season championship last year and he has twice played in the Frozen Four. The Fighting Hawks are currently tied for 8th in goals scored per game while holding opponents to the third fewest goals per game and the University of North Dakota is currently ranked second in the USCHO.com poll, and St. Cloud, Providence and North Dakota all have received at least one vote as the top men's college hockey team in the country.

As of Thursday afternoon Caggiula was 2nd in the fan voting with just under 3,000 votes while Prow was 3rd with over 2,200 votes. Both trailed Boston College goaltender Thatcher Demko who has reached the 3,800 mark. Another player in the voting process with Buccaneer ties is Harvard sophomore Merrick Madsen, who was an affiliate player of Des Moines' but never played in a regular season game. Madsen is 10-1-2 in 14 games this year with a 1.91 goals against average and .933 save percentage.

The only former Des Moines Buccaneer to have won the Hobey Baker Award is Peter Sejna who won the award in 2003 while skating for Colorado College. Sejna scored 36 goals and 82 points in 2002-2003, his third and final season with the Tigers before joining the St. Louis Blues. In the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons for the Buccaneers, Sejna totaled 96 goals and 183 points including 16 goals and points in the post season.

Voting can be done once every 24 hours on your Facebook account and the Buccaneers hope you support one or several of our Buccaneer Alumni throughout the fan voting process.

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