Bucs lose; postpone game tonight
Des Moines Tribune
by Don Clasen
Friday, 1-22-82
The Des Moines Buccaneers, who Thursday night lost, 8-1, at Austin, Minn., lost to the weatherman today when poor driving conditions forced postponement of tonight's match against Dubuque at the Ice Arena.
Ivan Prediger, coach and general manager of the Bucs, said the bad weather prevented the Fighting Saints from leaving Dubuque. Sioux City's game tonight at Waterloo also was called off, but Prediger said he still hopes the Blackhawks will be able to make it here for Saturday night's game with the Bucs.
Earlier, it was back to basics for the Buccaneers, who haven't quite lived up to Prediger's expectations, especially since they beat the United States Hockey League's best in the recent All-Star game.
"We went to two-a-day practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to try and improve our defense," said Prediger, whose team has given up 48 goals and scored only 33 in the last five games.
"Our offense is fantastic, but everybody's got to work together," said the ex-defenseman. "If we stick with our system, we can go all the way."
The Bucs didn't go far Thursday night against the Mavericks. Scot Rupp scored the lone goal for De Moines as Mark Pagnac stopped 45 Austin shots.
The loss dropped the Bucs t 13-16-1.
"With only 19 games left, we've got to go back to the basics and work harder," said Prediger. The Bucs' schedule should help. Only five are road dates.
USHL Standings |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAM | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Dubuque | 19 | 12 | 0 | 173 | 147 | 38 |
| Sioux City | 18 | 9 | 1 | 163 | 136 | 37 |
| Bloomington | 18 | 13 | 0 | 186 | 151 | 36 |
| St. Paul | 17 | 14 | 0 | 171 | 160 | 34 |
| Des Moines | 13 | 16 | 1 | 162 | 179 | 27 |
| Austin | 11 | 19 | 0 | 140 | 167 | 22 |
| Waterloo | 9 | 22 | 0 | 123 | 179 | 18 |
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
Austin 8, Des Moines 1
TONIGHT'S GAMES
Dubuque at Des Moines, postponed
Sioux City at Waterloo, postponed
SATURDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
Waterloo at Des Moines
St. Paul at Sioux City
Bloomington at Dubuque
SUNDAY'S GAME
Austin at St. Paul