Urbandale, IA (12.06.02): The Buccaneers may be having a tough season, but they always seem to find a way to beat Omaha - Sorry, the River City Lancers. Tonight it was 5-2 in favor of the Bucs. The Buccaneers played what Coach Ferguson described as one of their best games of the season. The Buccaneers went 2-6 on the powerplay, while holding the Lancers scoreless on 3 attempts.
The Buccaneers opened up the scoring just 1:36 into the game when Kris Bouchard got the puck to Bryce Anderson who came in all alone on Lancer goalie Dan Torney. Bryce wound up and let a rocket fly from the circle and scored. The Lancers scored less than a minute later, but it was as close as they would get as the Bucs built a 3-1 lead from the sticks of Mike Neilon and Ryan Dingle. The entire Buc squad was relentless on defense and where all over the Lancers from start to finish. Brian Papcun was sharp in goal and gave the Bucs the lift they needed, stopping many tough shots. The Lancers got as close as 3-2 at the end of the second period, but the Bucs did not let up and scored 2 more goals in the third period from Bryce Anderson and Mike Neilon to put the game away with a 5-3 score. The Lancers pulled their goalie with 4 minutes left, but neither team was able to score. Brian Papcun ended up with 43 saves on the night. Photography and story by Steve Bendy.
Bucs Destroy Topeka in Second Period
Urbandale, IA (12.07.02): The Buccaneers defeated the Topeka Scarecrows 8 - 4, giving the Bucs their first winning streak of the season. Coach Ferguson had said all along that there were 2 keys to turning the team around - special teams and confidence. As for special teams, the Bucs were 4 for 11 on the powerplay, while holding Topeka scoreless on 5 tries. For the weekend, the Bucs scored 6 powerplay goals. For confidence, all you had to do was watch the way they played - and it was exciting!
Topeka got on the board first, scoring 3:52 into the first period, and it took the Bucs 11 minutes to respond. Ryan Dingle spotted Jamie Hoffman in front of the net, and the red light was on. Teddy Bears filled the sky and the 2nd Annual TEDDY BEAR TOSS to benefit Blank Children’s Hospital was a huge success.
The Bucs put the game away in period 2, getting on the board just 37 seconds into the period. Bucs scoring leader Marty Guerin got the goal with the assist going to Tomas Jasko. Marty scored another goal in the period and ended up with 3 assists on the night. Also scoring in the period were Jon Rudnick, Ryan Dingle, Mike Neilon, Tomas Jasko, and Bryce Anderson. A.J. Bucchino ended up with 36 saves on the night. Photography and story by Steve Bendy.
Bucs Dodge Shutout in Final Period
Sioux Falls, SD (12.11.02): 1st Period: Stampede have the early power play for a "WHOLE TWO MINUTES", as Jamie Hoffmann goes off for cross-checking, which the Bucs are able to kill off. The Bucs take a while to warm up, but when they do, they get their shots on Ross Cherry, who makes save after save. Cherry faces 11 shots while Brian Papcun makes six saves and the period ends 0-0.
2nd Period: Second period was ruled by the special teams as several penalties were called on both teams, early and often. Cherry keeps the Buccaneers off the board. Sioux Falls get a hat trick of goals in the period with a even-strength, power play and short-handed goal in the period and lead, 3-0. Buccaneers have now given up 8 short-handed goals against this year.
3rd Period: Stampede get an early power play opportunity and they cash it in to make it 4-0. At the 2:30 mark, Travis Anderson is injured with an accidental high stick (in juniors, high-stick that causes injury is a either a double minor if accidental or major and a game-ejection.) The Bucs thought they had a goal, but for whatever reason it was ruled no-goal and the Bucs increase the Stampede's penalty kill and go OHFER-11 so far on the power play. To add salt to the wound, the Buccaneers go short-handed right after the penalties expire. At the 17:13 mark, Mike Neilon scores with assists to Joe Piskula and Marty Guerin on the power play to make it 4-1 and avoid the shutout. Buccaneers are now 1-6-2 for 4 points on the road and have three more road games ahead of them before their next home game (the lone win was in a shoot-out early in the season in Green Bay). Written by Kevin Kasel.
Waterloo Streak Continues
Waterloo, IA (12.13.02): 1st Period: Bucs are trying to snap the Black Hawks' franchise high 10 game-winning streak. The game starts out with a lot of up and down action for both teams and getting several scoring opportunities. Both goal-tenders, A.J. Bucchino and Jeff Jakaitis are answering the calls. Period ends how it started, 0-0.
2nd Period: Waterloo got on the board first with Trevor Stewart feeding the puck ahead to Ross Carlson, former Buccaneer who came in on a 2-on-1 with another former Buccaneer, Andy Nelson, and fed Nelson and he gave the Black Hawks the 1-0 lead. Then at the 11:56 mark, the Bucs go down two-men for a full two minutes, which Marty Guerin, Travis Anderson and (I believe) Joe Piskula killed off the entire penalty. The play stayed in their own zone the whole time and were able to ice the puck with about three seconds remaining on the penalties and still 1-0 Waterloo. Dustin Molle gave the Bucs back-to-back power play opportunities, which the Jamie Hoffmann was able to capitalize on the second opportunity with assists to Kyle Bushee and Tomas Jasko and the period ends 1-1.
3rd Period: Bucs started off the period on the power play, but were unable to convert. At 9:32 Mike Dagenais gives the Black Hawks gives the lead 2-1 with helpers to Joel Hanson and Rob Lehtinen, 2-1 Black Hawks. Bucs are not able to get another one in the net and fall 2-1 to the Black Hawks. Written by Kevin Kasel.
Bucs Beat Green Bay in Shootout
Green Bay, WI (12.14.02): 1st Period: Gamblers take the early lead off the stick of Troy Lother at the 1:49 point. Marty Guerin gets a break, as Eric Pfligler comes out of the net that Marty buries to tie the game 1-1 at the 7:15 mark. [Side Note: This was the Bucs first even-strength goal on the road in four games, last even-strength goal was Friday, November 22, 2002 at Lincoln; 3rd period Matt Burto from Joel Kitchen and Travis Anderson at the 7:33 mark.] Marty Guerin feeds Mike Neilon who back-hands the puck into the net to give the Bucs the lead 2-1 short-handed at 7:15 mark. Bucs get a late power play opportunity as Corey Couturier goes off for delay of game at 19:57, so the Bucs will have 1:57 power play to start the 2nd period.
2nd Period: Bucs are not able to establish their power play to start off the period. After the penalty expires, the Gamblers start and apply the pressure on A.J. Bucchino and he keeps the score the same. At the 9:08 mark Brett Coburn ties the game 2-2 with an assist to Alex Semenov. At 18:23 mark, Neilon scores his second goal of the night, a power play goal with assists to Steve Wagner and Bryce Anderson to give the Bucs the 3-2 lead.
3rd Period: Gamblers score late in the period with the goal-tying goal coming from Bret Adams and assist to Semenov. The period ends with some pushing and the Bucs will start the overtime with a power play opportunity.
Overtime: Neither team is able to the biscuit in the basket and we head to the shoot-out.
Shoot-Out: Bucs' 3rd shooter, Guerin is able to get the puck past Pfligler. The Gamblers' 5th shooter HAD TO SCORE to force sudden death, Kelly Plude scores, which forces the sudden death shoot-out. Bryce Anderson, the Bucs' next shooter, scores and the Gamblers' Brandon Longley mis-handles the puck on his attempt and the Bucs' win 4-3. Written by Kevin Kasel.
Another Shootout, Another Win
Sioux City, IA (12.20.02): 1st Period: Buccaneers come out and score early, less then two minutes into the game, Matt Burto puts the Bucs ahead 1-0, with helpers from Evan Stoflet and Jon Rudnick. Bucs defense and Brian Papcun are able to maintain the lead until the 16:10 mark, when Denver recruit, Ryan Dingle makes it a 2-0 Bucs lead with assists to Jamie Hoffmann and Tomas Jasko.
2nd Period: This period was a battle of the goal-tenders, as Papcun and Eric Aarnio, both make save after save. At the 14:25 mark, Bill Magnuson is able to get the puck past Papcun, to cut the lead to 2-1 in favor of the Bucs.
3rd Period: Near the mid-way point, Sioux City's Aarnio initiates the rush up ice and Mike Curry is help to tie it 2-2. The both goal-tenders and defenses to force and overtime session.
Overtime: Both teams have their chances and the referees has "put his whistle in his pocket". Neither team is able to score and it will take a shoot-out decide the outcome of this game.
Shoot-Out: The shoot-out takes eight shooters to determine a winner. The first 14 shooters were not able to score. Des Moines' 8th shooter, Jamie Hoffmann is able to get one past Aarnio and with Papcun stopping Sioux City's 8th gave the Bucs the 3-2 win and 2 points. Written by Kevin Kasel.
Solid Effort Pays Off In 3-1 Win
Urbandale, IA (12.28.02): The Bucs played a full 60 minutes of tough, consistent hockey and beat a talented Sioux Falls team 3-1. The Bucs opened scoring at 2:50 in the first period when team captain Marty Guerin scored an unassisted goal. Marty has consistently worked hard and is the Bucs leading scorer. Sioux Falls tied it up early in the second period from the stick of Jim McKenzie, but that was as close as the Stampede would get as newcomer Marty Mjelleli,scored 3 minutes later to get the game winner. Assists went to Patrick Borgestad and Travis Anderson. The second period ended wih the Bucs leading 2-1, and outshooting Sioux Falls 26 to 19.
The third period was a defensive battle as both teams had scoring opportunities but were thwarted by excellent goaltending. The Bucs got an empty-netter with 24 seconds remaining to put the game away. Mike Neilon got the goal with assist going to Marty Guerin and Travis Anderson. A.J. Buchinno was in net and faced 30 shots Story by Steve Bendy.
Bucs Lose In Overtime, 2-1
Topeka, KS (12.29.02): Period 1: The first period does not see much action on the scoreboard. Both net-minders, Brian Papcun for Des Moines and Layne Sedevie for Topeka, face only a few shots, but are able to turn away anything thrown their way. The score ends 0-0 and Topeka has a power play opportunity that will carry-over to the start of the second period.
Period 2: The Bucs are able to kill off the carry-over penalty and go back to the sin bin soon after the penalty ended and kill off that penalty as well. Both goaltenders had to make some great saves throughout the period to keep the puck out of the net. Bucs are able to score late, very late in the period, 19:59.08 (according to Brad Oistad), scoring his first goal of the season was Joe Piskula with assists to Tomas Jasko and Jon Rudnick to give the Bucs the 1-0 lead.
Period 3: Bucs have a long 5-on-3 mid-way through the period, but Topeka is able to kill off both penalties. Topeka pulls their goalie late in the period, and Phil Angell is able to score at the 19:51.1 mark to force overtime.
Overtime: Angell is able to get another one past Papcun and gives the Scarecrows the 2-1 overtime win. The Bucs are currently tied with Chicago in the standings, both have 25 points. Written by Kevin Kasel.
