Current Bucs Selected for Team USA
Published on October 21, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release
Urbandale (IA) USA Hockey announced today the appointment of Des Moines' Buccaneers' head coach Regg Simon as their head coach for the USA Junior A Select Team at the World Junior A Challenge Nov. 7-Nov. 13 in Langley, B.C. Simon won't be alone on the trip as current Buccaneer players Kevin Irwin, Ray Pigozzi and Ethan Prow were also named to the team.
The World Junior A Challenge is an annual event hosted by Hockey Canada that takes place in early November, pitting all-star teams of Junior "A" eligible players from various countries. The USA team will play in Pool A along with Canada West and Sweden. Pool B will have Canada East, Russia and the Czech Republic.
"It's an honor for our player's and myself to go to an event like this and represent our country" said Simon.
Along with being named the head coach, Simon was also given the responsibility of selecting the team and decided upon a roster that includes Irwin, Pigozzi and Prow who are all in their second season playing for Simon in Des Moines.
Irwin is a forward who scored 13 goals in 55 games during his rookie USHL season in 2008-2009. From Hinckley, OH, Irwin is committed to play Division I hockey at Ohio State and will go into the tournament with some international experience. He was a member of Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the summer of 2010.
From Evanston, IL, Pigozzi has four assists in the Bucs' first six games this season to lead all returners in that category. As a 16-year old and as one of the youngest players in the USHL last season he scored six goals. In August he announced his intentions to go to the University of Denver to continue his career once he is finished in Des Moines.
A Sauk Rapids, MN native Prow is committed to play Division I hockey at St. Cloud State just down the road from where he grew up. He is the Buccaneers' lone returning defenseman and has suited up for all but one game over two seasons for Simon.
Simon, along with Irwin, Pigozzi and Prow, will leave to join the Select Team the first week of November. They will return after the conclusion of the tournament and are expected to be back in time to rejoin the Bucs' for their Nov. 18th game at Omaha. The foursome will miss four games during that span. Assistant coach Graham Johnson will slide into Regg's role during that time.
"I'm confident the guys still here will compete and play Buccaneer hockey. There will be a good opportunity for extra ice time and I'm curious to see who takes advantage of it" said Simon. "Coach Johnson will do a good job with the team while I'm gone. His hockey knowledge and demeanor have been a great fit so far and it's a great chance for him to run the team for a few weeks."
The Buccaneers didn't have any representation on the 2010 USA Select team but did send two players as recently as 2009 when Connor Brickley (now at Vermont) and Eric Mihalik (now at Colgate) were selected.
The Buccaneers are 1-3-1 on the season and return to the ice on Saturday night in Ann Arbor, MI against the U-18 Team USA squad. The Buccaneers are back home on Saturday Oct. 29 against Tri-City.
The Des Moines Buccaneers are playing their 32nd consecutive season in the United States Hockey League this season. 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 2011-2012 season is available by calling (515) 278-2827.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2011
- Five Minutes Make the Difference - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Battle Back for 3-2 Overtime Win Over Fargo - Omaha Lancers
- Saints Steamroll Team USA 5-1 Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Face Team USA on Saturday - Youngstown Phantoms
- Ice's Kuraly and Flinchem Selected for U.S. Team - Indiana Ice
- Coaches Show Set for Tuesday at Anduzzi's - Green Bay Gamblers
- Matt Morris Named to US Junior Select Team - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Young Named to U.S. Junior A Select Roster - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Participate in World Junior A Challenge - Waterloo Black Hawks
- 20 USHL Players Named to U.S. Junior Select Team - USHL
- Current Bucs Selected for Team USA - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Lumberjacks Trade for Goaltender - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fighting Saints Look to Continue Success on Road Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
