Minnesota twins hope to fuel Bucs as old St. Paul pals call

Des Moines Tribune
Friday, 12-11-81
By Don Clasen

The Minnesota twins are a big hit with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.

No, Tom and Jerry Schlief don't have anything to do with the American League baseball team in the Twin Cities.

But the Bucs' identical twins from West St. Paul, Minn., are planning to pose double trouble for the St. Paul Vulcans when they play Des Moines at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ice Arena.

Oddly, unless the game ends in a tie, it will be a double-or-nothing affair.

Walter Kyle of Waterloo, the USHL commissioner, decided that the game would be played for four points rather than the usual two awarded the winner St. Paul used an ineligible player in a season-opening 8-3 victory here.

But back to the twins, who also starred in baseball and football at West St. Paul's Henry Sibley High. They want to beat the Vulcans because they have a number of friends playing on the team.

And, Joe Zywiee, brother of Vulcans Coach Frank Zywiec, "was our high school hockey coach," said Jerry Schlief.

The Schliefs, who are alike in many ways 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 165 pounds - play opposite positions.

Tom, who joined the Bucs last January, is a solid-as-a-rock defenseman. Jerry, a hustling forward, joined the team this season.

"(Bucs Coach) Ivan (Prediger) told me I am his utilityman," said Jerry, who is six minutes younger than his brother. "I can play any position."

Despite their somewhat small size, both excelled as linebackers on their prep football team. Tom was a shortstop in baseball and Jerry patroled the outfield.

Of course, both now consider hockey to be their favorite sport, The Schliefs, who turned 20 Oct. 14 and will use up their eligibility in the Junior A league this season, hope to land scholarships and resume their schooling after the season ends.

Both have attended junior college, "I have a year in law enforcement (studies)," said Jerry. The twins, who began skating when only 4 years old, appreciate practicing in the Ice Arena here. Back home they often drilled outside, even on the cold Minnesota nights.

The practice has paid off. After playing in all 18 games to date, Tom leads Buc defensemen in scoring with 12 points on four goals and eight assists. Both have turned in a remarkably clean slate.

Tom has only 13 penalty minutes and Jerry, who has scored a goal and been credited with an assist in 17 games, has served six penalties.

Have the look-a-likes ever tried to pull a switch on a date, for example?

Both said they haven't, but Jerry said: "In grade school we once switched classes."

Have they presented any problems to teammates or foes on the ice?

"We haven't since we don't skate on the same lines," said Tom. "We're hardly ever together on the ice."

Thanks to Mark Jasken, a goalie who joined the Bucs this week after being released by Dubuque, no one will have much difficulty telling the two apart out of uniform. Jasken gashed Jerry's jaw during an exhibition game Oct. 2 at Dubuque.

"It was just my second game and it required 12 stitches," said Jerry, adding that a penalty was not called.

Jasken, a 5-8, 165-pounder from St. Cloud, Minn., will bolster the Bucs' goaltending-corps, which was weakened recently when Frank Cataldo was injured. Prediger said the former Dowling prep has been working out, but is still weak.

In order to shake up the team, Prediger has cut reserve goalie Todd Ashe and ex-Ankeny prep star Ted Wiles.

USHL Standings
TEAM	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Bloomington	13	8	0	117	97	26
Dubuque	13	7	0	115	97	26
Sioux City	12	6	1	105	96	25
St. Paul	12	8	0	119	96	24
Des Moines	6	11	1	88	100	13
Austin	6	13	0	86	108	12
Waterloo	4	13	0	67	103	8

TONIGHT'S GAMES
Des Moines at Sioux City
Dubuque at St. Paul

SATURDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
St. Paul at Des Moines
Sioux City at Waterloo
Dubuque at Austin

SUNDAY'S GAMES
Austin at Sioux City
Bloomington at St. Paul

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