OverTime Neighborhood Pub Watch Party - Next Friday Night

The Buccaneers will be on the road taking on the Sioux City Musketeers next Friday night (March 5th) - but that doesn’t mean you have to miss the game!  Join us at OverTime, located at 4810 86th Street in Urbandale, for a watch party for the game on b2 Networks!  OverTime will be showing the game throughout the restaurant at no charge to Buccaneer fans!  There is no cover charge and OverTime is the perfect family environment to enjoy the game!  During intermissions, Buccaneer staff will be doing raffles, trivia and much more for some amazing prizes!

LIVESTRONG WITH THE BUCS NIGHT

Make sure not to miss the “LIVESTRONG WITH THE BUCS NIGHT” on Friday, February 5th. Wear yellow to the game and help the Buccaneers support Des Moines LIVESTRONG and the fight against cancer.  There will be an exclusive Brian Duffy original T-shirt depicting our 30th Anniversary and the partnership with LIVESTRONG - proceeds from the sales of the T-shirts and a silent auction will benefit the Des Moines LIVESTRONG chapter!  Make sure you’re there - and LIVE STRONG!

For more information about the Des Moines LIVESTRONG chapter please visit their website by visiting www.livestrongdesmoines.org.

Jimmy Buffett Night

Join us for Jimmy Buffett Night at Buccaneer Arena!

Enjoy 1/2 price margaritas, 1/2 price cheeseburgers and escape the cold of winter with the heat of Buccaneer hockey!

Walters Shines at USHL All-Star Game with Hat Trick; Team CCM defeats Team Reebok 5-4

INDIANAPOLIS - Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ryan Walters registered the fourth hat trick in USHL All-Star Game history at the Pepsi Coliseum Tuesday night.  Despite Walters’s hat trick, Team CCM (East Division) came out on top of Team Reebok (West Division) in a 5-4 overtime decision.

Nate Condon (Fargo) scored the first goal of the All-Star Game for Team Reebok, followed by two goals from Team CCM – the first from Tom Serratore (Youngstown), and the second from Max Cook (Indiana).  Walters scored the first of his three goals to even the contest at 15:32 in the first.

Walters gave Team Reebok their second lead of the game early in the second period with a goal at 3:54.  Shane Berschbach (Indiana) tied the game back up at 3-3 at 12:46.

In the third period, Tyler Barnes (Waterloo) put Team CCM back in the lead at the start of the third, but Walters finished off his hat trick at 13:26 and tied the game at 4-4.

After 60 minutes of play, the game went to overtime with each team skating four players a side.  It appeared to be heading to a shootout but Nick Bailen (Indiana) scored the game winning goal wit 13 seconds remaining in the overtime period giving Team CCM the win.

Troy Grosenick (Cedar Rapids) earned the victory in net making 14 saves after entering the game midway through the second period.

Following the game, Condon was named player of the game for Team Reebok while Bailen was honored as player of the game for Team CCM.  Walters earned the Ron Woodey Award as All-Star MVP with his three-goal performance.

Fellow Buccaneers Austin Coldwell, Connor Brickley and T.J. Tynan also took part in the USHL All-Star game.  Coldwell finished the game +3, Brickley ended the game -3 with 3 shots on goal and Tynan finished +1 with 2 shots on goal.

2010 USHL All-Star Game

Tonight marks the start of the 2010 USHL All-Star Game - but it looks like the weather is affecting some of the travel for the players to get to Indianapolis.

The USHL All-Star Gala is being hosted tonight at the Indianapolis Marriott North.  American NHL Hockey legend Jimmy Carson and General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets Scott Howson are just two of the speakers at tonight's gala.

The 2010 USHL All-Star Game will be played at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26th.  The All-Star game is expected to deliver a hard-hitting display of hockey from today's most exciting players and a glance at future NHL stars.  The USHL announced today that the All-Star game will be broadcast using B2 Express which is the new free-to-view platform now used exclusively for all live free programming on B2 Networks. The video broadcast of the USHL All-Star Game will be available free of charge through USHL.com and on B2TV.com.  Viewers will require a high-speed internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player.

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.

Getting to know one of the newer additions to the team...Peter MacIntosh

This article, titled MacIntosh to play jr. hockey in U.S. loop, first appeared in The Daily Gleaner. It was written by Bruce Hallihan.

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Peter MacIntosh hopes to earn a Division 1 hockey scholarship by going through Des Moines, Iowa.

MacIntosh missed his prom and Leo Hayes High School graduation ceremony to attend a June training camp in Des Moines, but it was worth the trip.

He landed a roster spot on the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.

Longtime hockey coach Tom Coolen helped MacIntosh get the invite and the six-foot-one, 195-pound defenceman took care of the rest.

"The camp started out with six teams," MacIntosh said. "By the time it got down to two, there were fast-paced games and high intensity.

"I'm hoping to do well and get seen by a few people. I'm hoping this leads to a Division 1 deal in the states."

The Buccaneers are coached by former Ottawa Senators' bench boss Dave Allison. Ex-NHLer J-P. Parise is the team's general manager and director of hockey operations.

"Dave was up front and honest," MacIntosh said. "I felt really appreciated by him. He seems like a real good guy, but at the same time a demanding coach. That's something you look for."

MacIntosh, who turned 17 on May 19, knows he'll have to prove himself all over again at the main camp in September.

"You talk somewhat about (potential) roles," he said, "but until you get down there and prove what you've got, everyone's in the same boat. I'm just going to show them what I've got and hopefully it leads to a major role on the team."

MacIntosh played the past two seasons for the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League - although he was sidelined more than half of last season.

"Last year was a tough year," he said. "I had two freak plays where I happened to break my wrist in the same spot, the growth plate."

He had his right wrist broken during an open-ice collision Nov. 2. Six games after he returned, he had his left wrist broken when he was checked against the boards at the end of January.

"Those are the first two injuries that ever made me miss any games. I feel 100 per cent now," said MacIntosh, who was drafted in the sixth round (109th overall) by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the 2008 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft.

"I talked to Bathurst off and on the past few years," he said, "but I never went to camp. I really want to play college in the states and I'm sticking to that."

MacIntosh attended both Woodstock and Leo Hayes high schools, averaging 87 over four years.
"I pride myself on my defence, but I feel I play an all-around game," MacIntosh said. "I think my mental game is a strength. I feel like I play a smart game and make good decisions; try to break things up before they happen.

"But I'm always working to try to get better," he said. "To say you're not working on anything sounds crazy. You've got to be working on everything all the time."

MacIntosh played for New Brunswick's under 15 and 16 provincial teams. He also represented Team Atlantic at the 2008 world under-18 hockey challenge in London, Ont.

"That was a tremendous experience," MacIntosh said. "You're playing against some phenomenal hockey players - the best players in the world in your age group. We placed seventh or eighth but we lost a lot of close games."

He was New Brunswick bantam AAA league MVP - and team captain - when Fredericton won the title in 2005-06 and helped the midget AAA Canadiens win the provincial crown the following season.

In 2007-08, he was team rookie of the year for the Slammers, contributing a goal and four assists in 44 games. He also had 69 penalty minutes.

In his abbreviated 2008-09 campaign, he had a pair of power play goals, nine assists and 62 PIM in 23 games.

"I'm grateful to the Woodstock Slammers organization for giving me the opportunity to step in as a 16-year-old and play," MacIntosh said, thanking head coach Jason Tatarnic, owner Andrew McCain "and all the staff."

"Woodstock's a great organization and I loved it there," he said. "It was just time to move on in my hockey career."

Tatarnic says MacIntosh should do fine in the USHL.

"Peter's a quality defenceman," Tatarnic said. "The USHL is a pretty good league, a step up from our league. So in terms of exposure for U.S. colleges, he's going to be seen quite a bit."

Scouts should like what they see, the coach said.

"He's a very responsible defenceman in the defensive zone," Tatarnic said. "He makes a very good first pass. He doesn't jump up into the play all the time, but when he does he picks the right moments.''

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!

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)