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USHL Des Moines Buccaneers

Bucs Hope Weekend Serves as Turning Point

October 21, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


Urbandale (IA) Two wins in October don't win championships but their value shouldn't be underappreciated either and for the Des Moines Buccaneers they're hoping that this past weekend serves as a turning point to their season. The Buccaneers swept their weekend games, rallying for wins Friday at Tri-City and Saturday at home against Team USA.

"It's a huge turning point for us" said head coach Jon Rogger following Saturday's win. "We have some momentum with consecutive wins and just to get the monkey off our back with a home win is important. It was frustrating to be 0-3 in front of the home fans."

Des Moines (3-4-1) was boosted all the way to fifth place in the United States Hockey League's Western Conference and have earned standings' points in four of the six games played in October.

The Buccaneers saw their offense awake for 10 goals in the two wins, no doubt a positive sign, but the goaltending of first-year netminder Ryan Ruck may have been the difference. Ruck earned his first two career USHL victories stopping a combined 59 of 64 shots (.921%) with a 2.50 GAA. Those numbers are very good, but are even more impressive when one considers Ruck's save percentage after the first period in both games was an outstanding .957%

"Ruck has been incredible" noted Rogger. "He stepped up and without him I don't know if we win those games"

Des Moines has allowed three goals or less in five of their last six games with goaltending and defense easily being a positive for the Buccaneers, leaving offense as a question mark.

Arguably, the Buccaneers' optimism after this last weekend comes from the team production on offense with their 6-2 win at Tri-City and the 4-3 win at home over Team USA. Des Moines scored 10 goals over the weekend after being limited to just nine goals total in their first six games.

No individual had a breakout weekend, but a positive sign was seeing a number of impactful forwards produce.

Last season's leading goal scorer Willem Nong-Lambert scored two goals on Friday night, while fellow veterans Jack Jenkins, Tanner Karty and Danny Elser scored their first goals of the season over the weekend.

Ryan Galt and Patrick Grasso scored their first goals since opening night. Rookie Marcel Godbout, who the Bucs are counting on to have strong production, scored his first career goal on Friday.

The only drawback for the Buccaneers is that they needed to rally on both nights, allowing the first goal in each of the games. In fact, Des Moines has allowed the first goal against in every game except opening night.

"It's something we can't continue to do but it's not as though we have come out flat, especially this last weekend" said Rogger. "I'd be more concerned if we weren't coming out ready to play."

Who Was That?

If Joe Gilhooly never plays another game for the Des Moines Buccaneers he'll have something in common with inventor Willem Austin Burt. Both came out of nowhere to make an impact in their field and, if original plans for Gilhooly hold, both drifted away from the spotlight.

Willem Austin Burt's contribution of the original typewriter may be more socially impactful, but Gilhooly played a contributing role in what the Buccaneers hope is a turning point weekend, and that is much more relevant now.

The 20-year old Brooklyn, NY native is a member of the Eastern Junior Hockey League's New York Bobcats and was called by the Buccaneers last Wednesday afternoon to help fill out the team's roster for the weekend. By Thursday afternoon he was at practice and not only suited up for both games but was noticeable with fellow linemates Tanner Karty and Ruslan Rakhmatov who also had good games.

Gilhooly was involved in a fight on Friday at Tri-City and then scored a goal in the final seconds of the first period on Saturday that tied the game 2-2 and gave the Bucs' momentum to rally.

Des Moines' plan was to bring Gilhooly in for the weekend to help fill the role that veteran Roman Uchyn will reclaim when he comes off injured reserve in a week.

TGIF

The Buccaneers are 2-0-1 in their three Friday games and 1-4-0 in their five Saturday games. After this weekend, when the Buccaneers have Friday off, they'll play on seven consecutive Friday evenings.

Hitting the Road

The Buccaneers are in the midst of a stretch of eight of nine games on the road with their next five consecutive games played away from Buccaneer Arena. Des Moines' next home game is Saturday November 9th vs. Cedar Rapids.

The Des Moines Buccaneers are preparing for 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.

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United States Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2013


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