Bucs October 1 Game Notes
September 29, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release
Series History with the Fargo Force
Des Moines and Fargo meet for the 12th time since Fargo reentered the USHL in 2008-2009 and the Buccaneers have gone 6-5. The evenly played all-time series has featured a number of close games that have favored the Buccaneers. None more dramatic than a meeting last March 31 in North Dakota when an Austin Coldwell shot was deflected by Dajon Mingo with less than a second remaining lifted Des Moines to a victory.
The teams split their two games last season with Fargo shutting out the Bucs 2-0 in January in Des Moines.
Fargo netminder Zane Gothberg was 1-1 with a 1.50 GAA in the two matchups.
New Shootout Rules
Fans should be on alert this season as shootouts could last much shorter than in the past. Mimicking the NHL, the USHL has shortened it ¬Å¸s shootout format from five rounds to three rounds. If a game remains tied after three rounds, the teams will continue on into extra shooters with the home team always getting the last shot.
A USHL game extends to a shootout after a five-minute sudden death overtime.
What's Old is New Again
The Buccaneers are sporting brand new uniforms and an identity this season but both should be familiar to long-time fans. Des Moines is phasing out the 'cartoon' pirate used since 2003-2004 and bringing back the original pirate head logo that dates back to the 1980s.
The uniforms are a "New York Rangers" cut with the home whites being an exact duplicate of what the 1994-1995 Bucs ¬Å¸ team wore during their triple crown season. The away blue jerseys are unique to this season, with "Des Moines" written across the front.
Bucs ¬Å¸ head coach Regg Simon designed the jerseys and based them on his playing days for Des Moines from 1994-1996.
Experience Matters
Des Moines returns only seven players, but has a wealth of junior A experience nonetheless. 12 additional players have played in either the USHL, North American Hockey League or a Canadian Junior A or Major Junior league.
Opening Night Opportunity
Since 2002-2003, the Des Moines Buccaneers are 4-2-3
The Bucs opened their 2005-2006 Clark Cup Championship season with a 3-2 home loss to Indiana.
Post-Season Drought
The Buccaneers will attempt to end a four-year postseason drought which is the longest in team history. Des Moines has also gone five seasons without a Clark Cup Championship which is the second longest such streak since the team ¬Å¸s first title in 1991-1992. The Bucs went seven years after their 1998-1999 title before winning in 2005-2006.
Heading West
Des Moines looks to improve upon a 6-11-2 mark vs. the West last season.
Home Sweet Home
The Buccaneers won 16 home games last season, their most since winning 17 during the 2006-2007 season.
Over the last five seasons, Des Moines is 66-71-13 at Buccaneer Arena.
Overflowing
Central Iowa came out in full force last season in support of the Bucs. There were 10 sellouts (crowds of 3,400+) which were the most in over a decade and the team averaged 3,000 fans per game. That was a USHL best 90% arena capacity.
Alumni Success
NHL Training camps opened in mid September with 11 former Buccaneers spread out amongst various teams. Though not all will begin the season in the NHL, it still represents the further growth of the USHL, where only 20 years ago getting into a top-tier hockey college was far from certain for many players.
Oh Canada
The Buccaneers have plenty of Canadian ties with three players hailing from the country and an American who played in the British Columbia League. Drake Caggiula and Anderson White are from Ontario and Jason Kasdorf is from Manitoba. Connor Varley is from Pennsylvania but played in the BCHL last season.
New Assistant Coach
Tonight ¬Å¸s game marks the regular season debut of Graham Johnson who is in his first season as the Bucs ¬Å¸ assistant coach. He spent the previous two seasons as an assistant at Division III Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. Before that, he spent one season as a volunteer assistant at Division I Quinnipiac University.
United States Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2011
- USHL Set to Open 2011-12 Regular Season - USHL
- Bucs October 1 Game Notes - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Phantoms to Open Season Friday Against Team USA - Youngstown Phantoms
- Tri-City Storm News & Notes - Week One - Tri-City Storm
- Jacks Defenseman Commits to Army - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Omaha Lancers Open 2011-2012 Regular Season Tomorrow - Omaha Lancers
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