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USHL Des Moines Buccaneers

Bucs Welcome Assistant Coach

September 1, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


DES MOINES, IA - The Des Moines Buccaneers are pleased and excited to announce the addition of former University of Alaska-Anchorage assistant coach, Matt Bruneteau.

"As a former player and captain in the USHL, Matt Bruneteau understands the level of commitment it takes to have success both on and off the ice in this league. His experience at the collegiate level as both a player and a coach will lend its hand in helping our current players prepare for that level as they progress through their junior career here in Des Moines. A person of high character and work ethic, he is exactly the type of individual I am proud to have work with our Buccaneer players this season," said Head Coach Matt Curley.

The 31-year-old, Omaha, Nebraska native started his career in 2008 at Shattuck St. Mary's, a college-prep school in Faribault, Minnesota known for producing some of the greatest hockey players. The school has won 24 USA Hockey National Championships since the late 1990s. Since graduating in 2008, Bruneteau has played and coached in the NAHL, USHL, NCAA, ECHL, WCHA and in France.

"Matt brings a wealth of hockey experience to the Buccaneer organization and we feel fortunate to have him here. Our team will benefit from his knowledge and his ability to make players better during the course of the year. Matt is a great addition to the Buccaneers both as a coach and as a person," said Senior Advisor and General Manager, Scott Owens.

Prior to his college career, the three-time LSSU Jim Howie Unsung Hero Award winner was with the Lincoln Stars for two seasons and named team captain his second season (2009-10). While at Lake Superior State from 2010-14, Bruneteau played in 146 games and was named captain his senior year after spending his junior year as assistant captain. He led the team in blocked shots his sophomore, junior and senior years. After college, Bruneteau played two seasons in the ECHL for the Fort Wayne Komets who went 36-24 and Greenville Road Warriors who went 39-27 that same season. For the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons Bruneteau went overseas and played for Strasbourg in France.

The Lake Superior State grad helped form the Stevenson University program who had their inaugural season in 2016 where he spent two seasons as assistant coach. Bruneteau and the Mustangs went 10-14-2 in their 2016-17 season and 11-8-7 in the 2017-18 season. Bruneteau worked alongside the Buccaneers new head coach, Matt Curley, at the University of Alaska-Anchorage for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the UAA from playing the 2020-21 season.

Assistant coach, Matt Bruneteau added, "I've grown up watching and playing in the USHL and am looking forward to being back in the league. I've always felt the Buccaneers organization was one of the most prestigious organizations in the league with a long and rich history of winning. I'm extremely excited to be joining the Buccaneer family, and couldn't be more excited to get to work. "

Bruneteau joins recently announced assistant coach Lennie Childs with the Buccaneeers.

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