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USHL Des Moines Buccaneers

Cardiac Bucs Colleting Points

March 4, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


(Urbandale, IA) The life of a daycare provider can be one stressful day after another of looking after the varying behaviors of infants, toddlers and pre-teens but satisfying nonetheless. For all the temper-tantrums, misbehaving and destruction by the end of the day the child leaves with a gratifying smile on their face that fulfills the provider's urge to continue to do what they do. To get that smile takes patience, stamina and at times a strong stomach but it comes.

The Des Moines Buccaneers have been speed bagging the hearts of their fan base for the better part of the last month with one dramatic game after another but in the process have been collecting standings points as if they are 1950s era baseball cards. It's been wild and at times uneasy but it's been very productive and fun to watch.

Since February 1st, the Buccaneers have rallied from two-goals deficits three different times, scored in the waning moments of regulation to tie games on three separate occasions and had seven games go into overtime.

All of this has resulted in two things A) Bucs' fans can't be faulted for being desensitized to scripted dramatic movies for a while and B) The team has been snapping up standings points like a frog feasting on bugs.

"I think that any time you are continuously gaining points in the standings, a team will gain confidence and momentum" said head coach and general manager Jon Rogger. "We have been playing a lot more relaxed as a team and confident overall."

The Buccaneers have earned at least one standings point in eight of their last 10 games which matches their best stretch of the season. Their record of 4-2-4 is good enough for 12 points which is eighth best in the league over that time and surpasses playoff teams like Dubuque and Waterloo.

Much of the success can be found on the road where the Buccaneers are on a five-game point streak away from Buccaneer Arena (3-0-2). Amazingly, each of those games has gone past regulation starting with a shootout loss at Tri-City February 1st and continuing all the way to the overtime victory Saturday at Youngstown.

That win on Saturday gave the Bucs a win in a game in which they had trailed late and while the team had earned single points with previous rallies it was satisfying to get the full two points this time.

"When you come back from being down late in the game and tie it up in the last minute but lose in overtime or a shootout, it's almost harder to handle because you played so hard to come back just to lose a point" said Rogger. "Saturday was a great team effort all around showing what kind of character this team has. Being down two goals with less than eight minutes left and scoring with under a minute to go, this team never gave up."

With13 games left in the season the Buccaneers still have attainable goals beginning with getting to .500% which would take wins in at least nine games. There is also the matter of winning fifth place in the Western Conference which would give the team its best standings finish since 2005-2006.

Some of the dramatic highlights of the month include

February 15th - Scoring twice in the final seven minutes to tie Youngstown and collect a standings point

with an overtime loss.

February 22nd - Scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, including the tying goal in the last minute, to tie

Sioux City and collect a standings point with a shootout loss.

March 1st - Scored twice in the final seven minutes, and then won in overtime at Youngstown.

Key Numbers

Points in 8 out of 10 games (4-2-4)

Three two-goal comebacks in final 10 minutes of regulation to earn at least a point

3-0-2 in the last five road games

Captain Coming Through

The desire is to have March come in like a lion but go out like a lamb, however team captain Danny Elser is hoping to keep up his pace through the remainder of the season after having a very good February. With his USHL career ending at the end of this season, Elser is doing his best to put a positive conclusion to his nearly two-year stay with the Buccaneers.

The Hopewell Junction, NY native had 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) and a +1 rating in nine games in February and for good measure also scored a goal on Saturday at Youngstown to begin March.

"Danny has been great as of late and is really showing why he is our Captain" commented Rogger. "(Saturday) the team was down a goal going into the second and we were not playing well at all. Danny got in a fight at the drop of the puck and we got our momentum back and really had a strong second period."

"I think he has his confidence back and knows that he should be putting up bigger numbers and leading this team the way that he can" added Rogger.

Affiliate Ensemble

Buccaneer fans will get a glimpse into the future throughout March as some of the team's top draft picks will play for the team as their midget and high school seasons conclude. Already last weekend the Buccaneers had forward prospects Matt Goree and Nikita Pavlychev skate with both seeing significant ice time with Pavlychev even earning an assist.

"We hope to see our young talent that will be playing in Des Moines in the future year(s) make plays and see how they fit in with the guys" said Rogger in describing his goals for affiliate players when they join the team.

"It helps our staff sort out who can play next year and who may need another year to develop. We bring in our affiliate players not only as a pre tryout for next season, but also to give them a taste of what the USHL talent is like" added Rogger.

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.

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