San Jose Signs Former Buc

Former Des Moines Buccaneers defenseman Garrett Stafford has signed with the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks, the United States Hockey League announced today. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Stafford played for the Buccaneers from 1996-99 and contributed to two championship teams in Des Moines. In 1997-98, he helped the Bucs capture the Anderson and Gold Cups, and then repeated as Anderson Cup champs and also won the Clark Cup in 1998-99. In his three seasons with the team, Stafford collected 75 points in 146 regular season games, including 41 points in 56 games in 98-99.

Stafford's play in Des Moines earned him a scholarship at the University of New Hampshire, where he played four seasons and amassed 81 points, on nine goals and 67 assists in 134 games. Since joining the Sharks AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Barons, Stafford has put up 14 points, which is good for fourth on the Barons scoring list, and sixth among AHL defenseman.