Season Opener This Saturday Night

Des Moines coach Bob Ferguson will face P.K. O’Handley, his former assistant  with  the Florida Everblades in the East Coast Hockey League. O’Handley is no stranger to the USHL having coached the North Iowa Huskies to a 140-187-21 record from 1991 to 1998 before spending the past four seasons coaching pros. The Huskies were 90-54-12 over  his  last three seasons  in Mason City .

The Bucs set sail into the season after posting a four-win, five-loss preseason schedule. The team showed gradual, but fairly consistent improvement since opening the preseason with a 5-2 loss in Waterloo. The Bucs also lost the following evening in Des Moines, 4-3. Des Moines found revenge with a 2-1 victory at the Cedar Rapids Super Six Tournament last Friday night.

Des Moines begins the new season with just six players with United States Hockey League experience. Ryan Dingle and Evan Stoflet are the only skaters with a full year in Des Moines, Marty Guerin and Tommy Kolar joined the team late last season. Guerin appears to be completely recovered from his season-ending knee injury. Players to join the team from other USHL rosters are Bryce Anderson (from the defunct Rochester Mustangs) and Mike Neilon (Omaha Lancers.)

Exciting newcomers have emerged from the recruiting class put together by head coach Bob Ferguson, assistants Tim Ferguson and Bryce Mackin; Joel Kitchen (Couchiching – OPJHL), Tomas Jasko (Bratislava Jr. A) and Jamie Hoffman (New Ulm [MN] High School.) Goaltending appears to be in good hands as A.J. Bacchino (Avon Old Farms [NH] Prep) and Brian Papcun (Soo Indians [MI] - NAHL) combined to allow just four goals on more than 120 shots through the final three preseason games. 

Meanwhile, the Black Hawk’s roster is filled with 13 players with USHL experience and features two former Buccaneers, Ross Carlson and Andy Nelson. Both players have seen limited preseason action due to nagging injuries. Both are expected to be in the lineup opening night.

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