The Buccaneers Get Their Man - Mike Guentzel Hired as Head Coach

BUCCANEERS GET THEIR MAN

MIKE GUENTZEL NAMED AS BUCS HEAD COACH

URBANDALE, IA – Des Moines Buccaneers General Manager J.P. Parisé announced today that Colorado College Assistant Coach Mike Guentzel has been named Head Coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers. Guentzel, a 23-year veteran of coaching, has spent the last 15 seasons at the NCAA Division I level with the University of Minnesota, and most recently with Colorado College of the WCHA. Guentzel will be responsible for all coaching aspects of the Buccaneers while Parisé will maintain his current role as General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations.

Guentzel spent 14 seasons (1994-2008) as an assistant at the University of Minnesota where he helped lead the Gophers to back-to-back NCAA Championships. In addition, he coached five Gopher defensemen to All-American honors, including the 2002 Hobey Baker Award winner Jordan Leopold.

The Buccaneers began their search for a new head coach after recently named coach, Dave Allison, accepted a position with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. Allison made that decision when it was unclear if he would be able to secure the proper visa in time for the 2009-10 season. “Once we became aware of Coach Allison’s situation, we immediately turned our focus toward securing Mike as our next head coach” said Buccaneers owner Gil Peled. “I am confident that he will help re-establish the Des Moines Buccaneers as one of the top franchises in the USHL.”

Dave Allison echoed Peled’s analysis of Guentzel. “The loyal Buccaneer fans are fortunate to have such an experienced, successful coach at the helm. And the players should be well prepared to take their game to another level. This will definitely be a team that I look forward to watching over the course of the year, and wish them all the best.”

General Manager J.P. Parisé shared his excitement regarding the Guentzel hiring. “He has a great understanding of the USHL and is very familiar with the players in this league from his recruiting experience at the college level,” said Parisé. “He has a history of putting winning teams on the ice, and advancing players to the highest levels of the sport. Today, I am extremely excited to announce that Mike has accepted this position with our team.”

Parisé went on to say, “The most important thing to me was that Mike is not only a great coach but a great person and family man. With his background at the college level, he understands the importance of education to our league, as well as developing our players as people and students just as much as hockey players.”

USHL Commissioner Skip Prince was just as enthusiastic. “Mike and I spoke early on in my tenure here,” said Prince, “and I was impressed by both his knowledge of hockey at the junior and collegiate levels, and by his love and respect for the USHL. We welcome his return to the League on behalf of one its most storied Member Clubs.”

Guentzel is no stranger to the USHL or the Des Moines Buccaneers. Prior to coaching at the collegiate level Guentzel served as the head coach of The St. Paul Vulcans (1989-92) and the Omaha Lancers (1992-94) of the USHL. He led St. Paul to a Junior A national title in 1991, an Anderson Cup (regular season championship) with Omaha in 1993, and back-to-back Clark-Cups (playoff championship) with the Lancers in 1993 and 1994. Guentzel has twice received the USHL Coach of the Year honor. He shared that honor with Des Moines’ Bob Ferguson in 1992, and in 1993 he was named Coach of the Year when he guided the Omaha Lancers to both the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup.

“I’m excited to be back in the USHL,” Guentzel commented. “I had good experiences during my eight years in the league. I look forward to re-establishing the tremendous success Des Moines coaches like Bob Ferguson, Scott Owens, and Regg Simon have brought in the past.”

Guentzel, 47, attended and played hockey for the University of Minnesota from 1981 through 1985. He served as team captain his senior year, and was the recipient of the Edwin Romnes Leadership and Sportsmanship Award as well as the Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award while earning his bachelor’s degree in small business and human relations. He went on to enjoy a brief minor-league playing career with the New Haven Night Hawks and Salt Lake City Golden Eagles following graduation, and was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1981.

Guentzel and his wife, Sally, have three sons. The oldest, Ryan, is a junior playing hockey for the University of Notre Dame. Gabe, 21, is a sophomore playing for Colorado College, and their youngest, Jake, plays at the bantam level in Minnesota.