Housing Families

Just spent a few minutes with our housing coordinator - as we've been receiving the players housing questionnaires.  We're in need of some housing families.

No matter if they're playing in the USHL, the NAHL or countless other circuits across North America, junior hockey players pursue their dreams by moving away from home, changing schools and living with a local family, who initially at least, are strangers.
Housing families are a vital, and often overlooked aspect of the junior experience, and the success of a good match impacts the player, on and off the ice, long after his playing days are done. The quality of a young man’s situation at his new home often directly affects his performance on the ice.

The Buccaneers are always looking for families that are interested in playing an important part of the Buccaneer family. With the season just around the corner, it actually is a full time job right now.  Buccaneer housing families become second families for many players. Players live with the families through the entire season, attend school, work at part-time jobs and of course become part of the family.
If you have other questions or comments, please contact us at info@bucshockey.com and we will forward your information to our Housing Coordinator.

Promotional Ideas

Those of us in the office are excited that the 2009 - 2010 schedule has finally been set - and we're beginning to look at the promotional side of things and plan out what we're going to do each game night to make the experience more exciting and to add to the already promising product on the ice.

This is where you come in, we're looking for some great new ideas for promotions. We've been doing this for a couple of seasons and it's getting a bit harder to come up with something new, something exciting and something that you want to see.

We're of course looking at having Buc Beer Nights again, despite some misgivings from fans these are the nights that bring the most people to the arena and the nights that the Arena itself thrives on - but we want to fill the schedule with other nights that bring those Buc Beer Night crowds back for more.

What are some ideas that you have? Remember they have to be financially feasible and work in the arena! We've done trivia contests, giveaways, appearances - but we want more specifics. What do you want us to give away? Who do you want to see at the arena? Should we do a Pink in the Rink or Armed Forces night? Let us know!

O'Hara grad on cloud nine skating with Flyers

ROCCO CARZO doesn't remember how the whole thing got started.

Four weeks ago, Carzo was looking for a trainer for the summer to stay in shape for his Division I hockey debut at UMass. Carzo's family adviser, former NHLer Stephane Charbonneau, recommended that he contact Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin.

The next thing he knew, he was lifting weights with Simon Gagne and putting on a Flyers jersey to skate in their annual week long rookie conditioning camp, which wrapped up yesterday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J.

For Carzo - a 19-year-old Media native and Cardinal O'Hara High grad - just being in the Flyers' dressing room sent chills down his spine.

"An opportunity came across and [the Flyers] asked me to skate in the camp because they saw me working out in the gym," Carzo said. "I had heard a little bit of interest from teams leading up to the draft, but I wasn't expected to [get drafted].

"I was a little bit surprised to hear from the Flyers. I grew up watching guys like Eric Lindros and John LeClair and now I am skating on the same ice and putting on the same jersey. I am still on cloud nine right now."

Only 18 months ago, Carzo wasn't in line for a Division I scholarship - let alone a shot in an NHL prospect camp.

"I was playing for the Little Flyers' Junior A team [AJHL] and I had gotten a call from Des Moines in the USHL,'' Carzo recalled. "I was playing well. It was a Friday night and they wanted me to come out immediately. So I packed up all of my stuff and said goodbye to my family and friends in a day or two. It all happened pretty quickly.''

A winger who can score, but isn't afraid to play a physical style of game, Carzo fit in with Des Moines. The 6-1, 205-pounder posted 20 goals and 13 assists in 45 games this year in the United States' only Tier 1 junior league.

As quickly as he adjusted to juniors - where as a 17-year-old newcomer he competed against players as old as 21 - he found out fast last Tuesday that the pro game is a huge jump.

"Playing out there [in Iowa], it took me a few games. The [amateur] game there isn't like it is here,'' Carzo explained. "But in camp, the speed and the size of the guys is so different. They all have the wheels to go and they are all men. It's definitely different than juniors.''

McCrossin has helped ease Carzo into the professional transition, which undoubtedly will aid him at UMass next season. For the last 3 weeks, Carzo has pushed himself in ways that he "didn't think his body could handle'' without a hint that a camp invitation was even a possibility.

"I'm grateful that they gave me this opportunity,'' he said. "One of the current Flyers players told me that the Flyers are known around the league for having the toughest rookie camp."

At UMass, Carzo will get a chance to make an immediate impact in the Hockey East, alongside Voorhees native Dan Meyers. Both Meyers, an Eastern Regional graduate, and Carzo are part of a growing generation of elite hockey players from Philadelphia.

Only 5 years ago, only a handful had a shot to play in college. And it certainly wasn't possible to get there without leaving home at the age of 14 to attend a swanky New England prep school.

Last season, emergency call-up David Sloane - of Ambler - became the first Philly native to ever wear a Flyers jersey in an NHL game when he skated at Madison Square Garden on April 9.

So last Wednesday, when Carzo's blades cut into the soft ice at the Flyers Skate Zone for the first time as a prospect, it wasn't just a rookie-camp appearance. It was for his family and all of his teammates over the years - many of whom were in the stands watching - who never got the chance.

"I wanted to prove to a few people that I could be here," Carzo said. "I wanted to turn a few heads in the Flyers organization. I am obviously not trying to make the team - I am going to college - but it's a new experience.

"It's humbling. I wanted to see what I will need to make it to the pros. I'm trying to do that." *

A Look Inside Coach Allison's Philosophy....

Just a little look into what Coach Allison has been saying this summer.

I am a big believer in the power of three.

Individuals work hard. Individuals work intelligently. Individuals work with support for each other.

Passing the puck when a teammate is open not when you run out of space. Positive competition for ice time. A physical whistle to whistle committed group.

Good habits both on and off the ice. Understanding consequences, both good and bad. Making a positive difference within the community.

On the ice I expect us to improve each and every day. Come with a purpose. Embrace a consistent plan of action, urgency, and execution.

Help Us Support the Junior Olympics!

The Junior Olympics has asked the Booster Club and fans to find 40 volunteers to help out with the games. In exchange for working 40 shifts and helping the Junior Olympics, the Booster Club will be awarded $400 to assist with supporting the 2009-2010 Buccaneer team. This contribution will be significant in assisting both organizations. The Junior Olympics will be held on July 27th through August 8th around various sports venues in the Des Moines Area.

Here is some general information on the AAU Junior Olympics:

The Junior Olympic Games will bring in an estimated 35,000 visitors to the area. This includes 14,000 athletes who range in age from 8 to 18 who will be competing in 20 different sports. We have sent information to coaches and athletic directors in the Metro so they can get information to their athletes about the opportunities to compete in this national championship.

The Junior Olympic Games set the stage for Des Moines as a future venue for several other high profile athletic events. Des Moines will be the site of future National Championships in Track & Field as well as NCAA Tournament Games in Basketball. The J.O. Games will inject $25 million into our economy and also promote the state of Iowa as a leader in health and wellness. Des Moines citizen’s and groups like yours, who step forward to get things done, are a major reason these events are attracted to central Iowa.

Please see the below link if you would like to volunteer. This link provides the date, time, what sport and where the event is held.

http://volunteer.desmoinessports.com/index.php?event=94&sort=date

The Junior Olympics would like us to register as a group, so if you would like to volunteer please send an email to dmbucsboosterclub@hotmail.com or call Alana Schares at 515-229-0980. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, July 19th. Please have the date and time of the event that you would like to sign up for along with your phone number, email address and shirt size.

Sincerely,



The Des Moines Buccaneers Booster Club

2009 - 2010 Schedule Released

URBANDALE, IA – The Des Moines Buccaneers announced today the schedule for the 2009-10 regular season.  The USHL expands to 14 teams this season and two divisions of seven with each team playing a total of 60 games (30 home, 30 road).

The Buccaneers have moved back into the West Division of the USHL due to the addition of the Youngstown Phantoms and Team USA.  The West Division includes Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Fargo and Tri-City.

The Buccaneers hit the road for their season opener on Friday, October 2nd against Sioux Falls. The following night, Saturday October 3rd, the Buccaneers open their home campaign by facing off against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.  Other notable games include a Thanksgiving night bout against Omaha and a New Year’s Day game against the Tri-City Storm.

The final home game of the regular season will be on March 27th against the Chicago Steel.   The season wraps up with the Bucs on the road against Sioux Falls, Tri-City and Omaha in a three game road trip.  The top four teams in each division at the end of the regular season schedule will qualify for the Clark Cup Playoffs.

The Buccaneers promotional schedule will be released sometime next month.  Single game tickets will be on sale in September while season tickets are available for purchase throughout the summer.

Click here to see the schedule.

2009 - 2010 Roster Released

The Des Moines Buccaneers have taken the first steps to finalize their roster for the 2009 – 2010 season; with 5 returners and 20 new players the team is making strides to put an exciting, fresh product on the ice.

Over 100 players attended the invitation-only selection camp held June 18th though June 21st in hopes of becoming a Buccaneer. All players attending the camp possessed talent, dedication and commitment, but cuts were made throughout the camp. At the end of camp, Head Coach Dave Allison and General Manager J.P. Parise had the list down to 30 players.

“The amount of talent at our invite camp was above average – all of the players who attended showed us a great amount of talent and skill. We had a difficult time cutting our list of players down to 30, and an even harder time making the final cuts. But the final roster that we have put out is the one that will make the difference out on the ice for this upcoming season,” said Parise.

The new team listed below mixes backgrounds, experience, diversity and skills as the roster include players from the all over the United States including the Southwest and the Northeast, as well as the Northwest and Canada.

Five returning Buccaneers appear on the list, including forwards J.P. Burkemper, Michael Fink, H.T. Lenz and Ryan Walters, as well as defenseman Ami Peled, all who are expected to be playmakers this season.

Absent from the roster are forward Josh Myers and defenseman Andrew Panzarella, who were traded to Tri-City in a trade earlier this week.
“We are continuing to build our future. Andrew and Josh were traded earlier this week in return for Daniel Heath (D-Tri City Storm) and Joe Wilson (F-Syracuse Stars). Both players have the ability to succeed wherever they are playing. Both were strong players, but in looking forward we had to make a decision that would be best for their futures and best for ours. We wish both of them nothing but the best and look forward to what Daniel and Joe are able to bring to the table in Des Moines,” said Head Coach Dave Allison.

In addition to Daniel Heath and Joe Wilson, some other notable new players on the roster include Eric Knodel, Austin Coldwell, Colton Saucerman, DJ Vandercook and TJ Tynan.

Knodel, a 6’6” 225 lbs. defenseman, played for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers last season and drafted by the Bucs in the USHL Entry Draft. He made an impression at the Buccaneers Invite Camp, not just with the Bucs coaching staff but with an NHL team. This past Saturday he was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Coldwell, a 6’1” 190 lbs. defenseman, was the first round draft pick in the USHL Entry Draft and played for the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL last year. He played in 56 games and raked up a total of 27 points and 61 penalty minutes.

Saucerman, a 5’9” 180 lbs. defenseman, tried out for the Buccaneers during the Open Camp at the end of May and was invited back to Invite Camp and made the final cut. The offensive defenseman played for the Pikes Peak 16AAA team last year and had 48 points and 183 penalty minutes.

Vandercook, a 6’3” 190 lbs. forward, was drafted by the Buccaneers in the USHL Entry Draft. He played in 70 games for the Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL and had 40 goals and 30 assists last season.

Tynan, a 5’9” 170 lbs forward, spent time on the Buccaneers affiliate list over the last season. The Illinois native played for the Chicago Mission, who participated in the Buc Bowl, and in 80 games, had 47 goals and 82 assists.

“We’re pleased with the amount of talent that this roster has, as well as our affiliate list. We’ll continue to make some changes and a final roster will not be out until after the USHL Fall Classic in September but this is the beginning of something new. We look forward to the start of the season and the product we will put on the ice,” said Parise.

Below you will find the complete roster of 25 players…

Jack Berger('90 - Forward)
J.P. Burkemper ('91 - Forward)
Brandon Burrell ('90 - Defense)
Mitch Cain ('91 - Forward)
Brandon Carlson ('92 - Defense)
Austin Coldwell ('90 - Defense)
Joe Faust ('91 - Defenese)
Michael Fink ('90 - Forward)
Connor Frick ('92 - Defense)
Daniel Heath ('90 - Defense)
Eric Knodel ('90 - Defense)
HT Lenz ('89 - Forward)
Jack McNamara ('90 - Forward)
Eric Mihalik ('91 - Goalie)
Dan O'Donoghue ('91 - Forward)
Ami Peled ('89 - Defense)
Colton Saucerman ('92 - Defense)
Trevor Tracy ('91 - Forward)
TJ Tynan ('92 - Forward)
DJ Vandercook ('90 - Forward)
Ryan Walters ('91 - Forward)
Charles Williams ('92 - Goalie)
Joe Wilson ('92 - Forward)
Taylor Wolfe ('91 - Forward)
Dalton Young ('93 - Defense)