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USHL Des Moines Buccaneers

Buccaneers Hit the Holiday Hiatus Hot

December 16, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


Urbandale (IA) With players scattering back to their hometowns to be in the comfort of family and longtime friends, the Des Moines Buccaneers and the rest of the United States Hockey League have entered the holiday hiatus portion of the schedule. By Sunday afternoon, the Bucs' players traveling back home had skipped town faster than a frog hopping on hot pavement but they do so with momentum on their side.

The Buccaneers concluded the pre-holiday break portion of their schedule by sweeping perennial USHL contender Green Bay with a 2-1 shootout win on Friday and a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Des Moines is on a five-game point streak (4-0-1) which is their longest since March 2011 and undoubtedly have been playing with a great deal of confidence recently.

That confidence will hopefully carryover when the Buccaneers return to action December 27th to begin the "post-holiday break" portion of the schedule and what is in many people's mind the second-half of the season. For many years, the holidays have been viewed as the league's midway point.

The reality is that the holiday hiatus comes nearly every year at a time when teams have yet to play 50% of their games and this season is no different with most teams around 26 games played. The Buccaneers themselves have played 24 games (10-12-2).

But much like Shawshank Redemption was a box office bomb and not a hit, there is no reason to let this mathematical fact get in the way perception.

Christopoulos Stands Tall

Goaltender Billy Christopoulos was outstanding last weekend allowing only a single goal in regulation to backstop the Buccaneers to the weekend sweep of Green Bay. The Raleigh, NC native's only goal allowed came on a controversial no-call on Friday when an apparent goalie interference led to a Green Bay tally.

On Saturday, he was perfect on 32 shots against to earn the Bucs' first shutout since he blanked Chicago last December and the team's first home shutout since November 2011.

Karty Steps Up

Veteran forward Tanner Karty only had a single statistical goal all weekend but his impact went beyond that. On Friday, his goal in the bottom of the third round of the shootout extended the game which Jack Jenkins would win in the sixth round.

Then on Saturday, he connected on a penalty shot midway through the second period to break a scoreless tie and put the Buccaneers in control.

Break out the Brooms

The four point weekend sweep was the Buccaneers first perfect weekend since October 18-19 when they defeated Tri-City and Team USA on back-to-back nights.

Impact Line Delivering

Whether they are call them the "kid line" the "baby line" and the "white line" or the "law firm" the veteran line of Ryan Galt, Jack Jenkins and Michael Marnell has rounded into form in the last five games.

They have combined for 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) and a plus 8 rating.

As a team the Buccaneers are a +16 in their last five games after being -82 the first 19 games of the season

Buccaneers at the Holiday Break over the Last 10 Seasons

Records (sorted by winning percentage)

2005-2006 26 games played 17-5-4 .731 38 points

2006-2007 22 games played 14-7-1 .659 29 points

2010-2011 20 games played 10-8-2 .550 22 points

2012-2013 29 games played 15-13-1 .544 31 points

2011-2012 22 games played 10-11-1 .477 21 points

2009-2010 27 games played 12-14-1 .463 24 points

2013-2014 24 games played 10-12-2 .458 22 points

2008-2009 22 games played 5-14-3 .295 13 points

2007-2008 23 games played 5-16-2 .261 12 points

2004-2005 26 gamed played 3-19-4 .193 10 points

The 2013-2014 season doesn't stack up great so far but keep in mind the Buccaneers go into the holiday break on that five-game point streak.

The Des Moines Buccaneers are in their 34th consecutive season in the United States Hockey League. Since 1980, the Buccaneers have produced hundreds of NCAA Division I players and dozens of professional alumni. Season Ticket Packages and Corporate Partnership information for the 2013-2014 season are available by calling (515) 278-2827.

Check out the Des Moines Buccaneers Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2013


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