December Game Commentary

Meyer Gets Hat Trick in Win

Des Moines, IA (12.1.00): Doug Meyer notched a natural hat trick and the game winner to give the Bucs a 5-2 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The Bloomington, Minnesota native score the first two goals just 17 seconds apart to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. His first goal came with 9:39 on the clock with a high shot to the glove side that just plain beat the goalie. Doug came roaring back 17 seconds later and showed great personal skill as he scored an unassisted goal.

Dubuque did not give up and scored two quick goals of their own with less than five minutes remaining in the first period - they would not score again.

Meyer got his hat trick 5 minutes into the second period on a tip in when Wade Chiodo fed him perfectly. The goalie did not have a chance.

Four minutes later Paul Baumgartner got his first goal of the year when Wade Chiodo picked up a loose puck in a crowd in front of the net and passed it back to Paul. Paul wound up and let it go and buried it in the back of the net to make it 4-2. Ross Carlson capped off the scoring for the Bucs with a blast as he skated in on the net midway through the third period.

The Buccaneers have a new defenseman, Mike Fournier, wearing number 16. Craig Hagkull said he would get us all the info on Mike early next week.

Meyer (Martensson, Bennett), Meyer (unassisted), Meyer (HT) (Chiodo), Baumgartner (Chiodo) and Carlson (Flaig) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
DES MOINES	5	2-2-1	31	16	0-3	Mantua (25-27)
Dubuque	2	2-0-0	27	8	0-2	Ruden (34-38)
DES MOINES: Meyer (HAT TRICK,GW), Baumgartner (G), Carlson (G)
DUBUQUE: Harrington (G), Hall (G)
Attendance: 3,109

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Meyer Gets Game Winner

Cedar Rapids, IA (12.2.00): Doug Meyer scored the game winning goal as the Buccaneers beat Cedar Rapids, 3-2. Doug continued his hot streak, having notched a hat trick yesterday against Dubuque. The Buccaneers had played the RoughRiders twice this year and have lost both times. One was a shoot out loss and the other was a humiliating 9-3 loss. Tonight, the Bucs avenged that loss with a solid game in a hostile arena.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
Des Moines	3	2-1-0	45	14	0-3	Mantua (35-37)
CEDAR RAPIDS	2	0-2-0	37	12	1-4	Goepfert (42-45)
DES MOINES: Meyer (GW), Langdon (G), Campbell (G)
CEDAR RAPIDS: Patton (G,PP), O'Brien (G,SH)
Attendance: 4,243

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We Are No Longer Just Fans

Eau Claire, WI (12.3.00): Where have the months gone? It cannot possibly be December already, let alone barreling full force into the Christmas season. Yet, here we are, and before we know it the vaunted year 2000 is going to be over.

Long ago I promised somebody that I would make it up North to watch him play, this past weekend I made that promise reality. It seems as you get older, time flies by faster and faster, and I really had meant to make the journey up to Wisconsin before now.

Anyway, to make what may be a long story a little bit shorter, and to sum it up for all those fans who want to skim through this and not read it word-by-word...I went up to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to watch Erik Strand and Jon Walker play the Lake Forest Foresters. The two ex-Buccaneers are now playing for the Blugolds and are currently having a good year with the recent addition of new head coach Marlin Muylaert (currently in his second season).

The two teams battled the entire three periods Saturday night at the Hobbs Ice Arena. It was exciting, passionate and good cold hockey. The Foresters were leading all the way until the third period where Sgambelluri tied the game with a pretty little goal with the help of Chris Hunter and Ben Manny. Adam Sklader who had the first goal for the Blugolds would end up getting the game winner. They won the game by a score of 3-2 taking the winning streak to it's fourth game. If you'd like to see stats on the game, just take a look at the UWEC website.

Erik played much the same as he had in Des Moines, always working hard and giving everything he had. He later informed us that he hasn't played like he did in Des Moines since this year. With that gritty, solid defensive style of hockey that he's natural at. That is largely due to the coach giving him the chance to play like he wants.

Walker and Sutton have been alternating this year, and as luck would have it we got to watch Jon play. I saw his improvement right away and he did an excellent job in net, quick and perceptive. He only gave up two goals and made 24 saves. Walker, quiet and professional-looking after the game, only grinned when he was told what an excellent job he'd done.

After the game I met many of the other players, some had played in the USHL. Among those were Ian Sgambelluri, Jamie

Minor, Matt Plummer, there may have been others as well. And Hunter, if I ever come up again, I think you owe me an apology (if you don't remember why, I can refresh your memory).

The Strands and the Walkers were both up as well, it was so good to see familiar faces and even better to reminisce about the days that have now become legends. Just like Erik's championship ring, there are those golden memories that only get more glitter as the years go by. We remember the best parts of those days and nothing of the bad. Just like that ring was an honor to receive, we remember what an honor it is to be Buccaneer fans, or Buccaneer players, or even the proud parents of those Buccaneers. It's something that can never be taken away, and can't be understood by those outside of our intimate circle. It's something that pulls us all together and unites us into a family.

We are no longer just fans, coaches, players, parents, staff...we share something. We share something that we have the privilege to be a part of and love. It isn't something we've bought, it may be something we've earned, or it may be watching a team that has fought it's way to get where it is. It's what every single one of those Nebraska football players feel when they find the black shirt hanging in their locker and know they've made it. It's when you see the NHL players break down and cry when they've gone through the entire playoffs and finally won the Stanley Cup. It's when we watch a team click and come together, regardless of the talent (or perhaps lack of talent), and make it to the Nationals to stomp every bit of competition in their way. It may happen only once in our lifetime, maybe we'll have the honor of seeing it again. But it's this...this, is what Buccaneer hockey is all about.

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Mantua Shuts Out Omaha

Des Moines, IA (12.3.00): It's funny how history repeats itself. Last week the Buccaneers suffered one of their worst defeats in club history, losing to the Omaha Lancers 10-2. The Bucs had not lost that bad since Friday, March 15, 1996 when Omaha

won 10-2 to even up the Clark Cup round 1 series at one game apiece. The Buccaneers came back the next night to defeat the Lancers 3-0, and eventually won the series 4-2. In that game Jayme Platt was in goal and Bobby Davis got 2 goals to give the Bucs the victory.

Tonight, the Buccaneers treated the crowd to a total team effort, focused on offense and defense. The difference was in the little things - battling for every loose puck, the forwards constantly harassing the Omaha forwards and the defense sweeping up the rebounds. There were also the big things - Mike Mantua. Mike played the game of his life, leaving all who witnessed his play with "how did he save that one?"

The game started with the Lancers playing like it was a national championship. I suppose that should have given us all some comfort as they have never been able to win a national championship. Still, they were putting on tremendous pressure, and if it were not for some unbelievable saves by Mantua, would have built an early lead. Instead, it was the Buccaneers who built the lead. The Bucs first goal came on a powerplay from Joe Campbell with assists to Ryan Bennett and David Klema with four minutes gone in the game. The Lancers seemed to redouble their efforts, but the defense and Mantua stopped every shot. The Bucs struck again when Ryan Kirchhoff fed David Klema who just powered his way in on, and beat Magers, the Omaha goalie. The period ended with the Bucs outshooting the Lancers 13-10.

The Lancers knew that they needed to tie it up in the second or it would be a long night. They peppered Mantua with shots, outshooting the Bucs 18-5. To the credit of the defense, rarely did the Lancers get a second shot... except one flurry that anyone that saw it will remember for a long time. Mike Mantua was literally flopping around the ice from one side of the goal to another making save after save. Mike made 6 to 8 saves during that short period, bringing the crowd to a fevered pitch. When Wade Chiodo finally cleared the puck the crowd was so loud you could probably hear it all the way to Altoona.

The Bucs had to kill off a full two minutes down to men, and during that time the Lancers only got two shots on goal. Again, the Bucs were playing as a team and it showed.

The Bucs got one more goal with two and a half minutes left in the period on a powerplay. Paul Baumgartner took a shot which Magers was able to stop. The rebound was picked up by Mark Langdon who lifted it up and over Magers to make it 3-0. The Lancers tried to get the goose-egg off, but were never even able to pull Magers for the extra attacker as the Bucs offense kept the pressure on. The Buccaneers had avenged the loss to the Lancers and won all three games on the weekend. What a game!

Campbell (PP) (Bennett, Klema), Klema (Kirchhoff) and Langdon (Baumgartner) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
DES MOINES	3	2-0-1	27	29	2-5	Mantua (36-36)
Omaha	0	0-0-0	36	17	0-4	Magers (24-27)
DES MOINES: Meyer (GW), Langdon (G), Campbell (G)
CEDAR RAPIDS: Patton (G,PP), O'Brien (G,SH)
Attendance: 3,013

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Powerplay Goals Beat Bucs

Des Moines, IA (12.8.00): Cedar Rapids scored four powerplay goals in less than 5 minutes to beat the Bucs 7 - 2. The Buccaneers started out strong, dominating the Rough Riders, outshooting them 11-3 in the first period. The Bucs scored first on a powerplay when Arne Martensson wound up and let loose from the blue line. Assist went to Paul Baumgartner and Rene Gauthier. Our Swedish players, Arne Martensson and Stefan Bjurstrom have really been improving and are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Cedar Rapids scored a soft goal with just 51 seconds remaining in the period. Two Buc defenders had the shooter tied up, but the puck slid in the net; it looked like Mantua was screened.

The Rough Riders picked up the pace during the second period, but both teams battled without scoring until the last minute of play. I did not see it, but David Klema was called for a 5 minute high sticking major with 1:20 to go in the period. The Bucs

went down an additional man when the Buc bench was called for being too vocal with their protests on the call. After the game, Coach Carroll said that although Klema should not be using his stick like that, it should not have been a 5 minute penalty.

In any case, in the next 5 minutes the Rough Riders scored 4 powerplay goals to put the game away. With just three minutes gone in the third period, the score was 5-1. After the fifth goal the Bucs looked defeated and you could sense that there was not going to be a come-back win tonight. David Klema did score with assists to Ryan Bennett and Joe Campbell with 5 minutes remaining in the third period, but it was too little, too late.

Despite losing 7-2, Coach Carroll was encouraged with the play of the Buccaneers. "We dominated play the entire first period ... but you just can't give a team like Cedar Rapids 11 powerplay opportunities".

Martensson (PP) (Baumgartner, Gauthier) and Klema (Bennett, Campbell) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
Cedar Rapids	7	1-1-5	34	52	5-7	Goepfert (37-39)
DES MOINES	2	1-0-1	39	33	2-7	Mantua (27-34)
CEDAR RAPIDS: Partch (2G,A,PP), Lalande (GW,2A,PP), Moss (G,3A,PP), Hickey (G,PP), O'Brien (3A), Atherton (G,PP), Wilson (3A), Carpentier (G)
DES MOINES: Martensson (G,PP), Klema (G,PP)
Attendance: 3,221

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Bucs Shutout By Omaha

Omaha, NE (12.9.00): The Last time the Bucs played the Lancers, they shut them out 3-0. Tonight the Lancers repaid the favor with a 2-0 shutout of the Bucs.

Before the puck was even dropped, the Lancer crowd was pumped. The difference between Omaha fans and the expansion team crowds is in their knowledge of the game and history with the sport. Their is no doubt that when the Lancers cheer it is much different when the Lincoln Stars fans cheer. Omaha fans appreciate a good hockey game. The Bucs gave them that the first period and the home crowd responded to the Lancer two goal lead. Paul Morrissey was playing well, but as is the case so many times when the Bucs are scored on, the team gets sloppy on defense. On one lancer goal Paul stopped the first and second shot but was beat by the third.

When the second period began the Bucs were on the ice, but were not playing like we all know they can. By the middle of the period it was really obvious. Ryan Kirchhoff was involved in a fight which gave him 5 minutes and the opposing player a game ejection. For the Buc fans, that was all the excitement to be had. Despite outshooting the Lancers 9-8, the Buc shots were not quality scoring opportunities.

The third period was more of the same, and I guess the only good thing was that the Bucs were able to keep the Lancers from scoring any more goals.

I am not going so far to say that the Bucs are in trouble, but they are struggling. Last week they played up to their potential; tonight they looked like they were just going through the motions. Will the real Buccaneer team please come forward?

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
OMAHA	2	2-0-0	26	35	1-6	Magers (26-26)
Des Moines	0	0-0-0	26	25	0-6	Morrissey (24-26)
OMAHA: Hacker (GW), Porter (G,PP)
DES MOINES: None
Attendance: 4,698

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Stars Beat Bucs

Lincoln, NE (12.12.00): Lincoln, NE (12.12.00): Veteran Chris Fournier led the Lincoln Stars to a 6-2 victory, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists. The Buccaneers played well the first period holding a 2-1 first period lead - but it was all Lincoln after that as the Stars scored 4 unanswered goals (three of them on the powerplay). For the Bucs, Ryan Bennett scored two powerplay goals and Mike Mantua faced 40 shots.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
LINCOLN	6	1-3-2	40	20	4-8	Fritz (22-24)
Des Moines	2	2-0-0	24	22	2-8	Mantua (34-40)
OMAHA: Hacker (GW), Porter (G,PP)
DES MOINES: None
Attendance: 5,010

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Bucs Fall To Sioux Falls 6-1

Sioux Falls, SD (12.15.00): Special teams play hurt the Bucs as the Stampede scored 3 powerplay goals in the third period. Sioux Falls converted on three of five opportunities for the night. The Bucs had played well through the second period, which ended with the Stampede leading 2-1, but lost the game when Sioux falls scored 5 unanswered goals. Langdon (Bennett, Mantua) scored for the Bucs.

Commentary
The Bucs set out for their second of four very tough road games in just seven days. I say tough because the Bucs must play Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux Falls and Dubuque. Omaha, Lincoln and Sioux Falls are leading the USHL and Dubuque has done its share of knocking off top teams. Sioux Falls is just hammering opponents this year and are predicted by many to win it all this year. Speaking of Sioux Falls, does anyone know if Chad LaRose is related to Claude LaRose who played for the Omaha Knights and then the NHL? If anyone knows, please contact me.

In addition to the tough opponents and grueling schedule, the weather has been very nasty. Over 10" of existing snow in the region, sub-zero weather, and more snow and ice on the way just complicate matters. We shouldn't complain much about the weather - we have had several mild winters and we are due for a bad one.

Last year the Bucs had 4 road games in a row on two separate occasions, when they went 2-2 and 3-1. Looking back the last 10 years, this has to be the toughest 4 away games ever. I am sure most of you know this, but schedules, scores and other info for past Buc teams is available on the Past Teams page.

The game started early (7:05) which was good because the weather was not forcast to hit us big until later in the evening. Hopefully we would make it to our destination, Mason City, Iowa, before it hit. I am not sure how much the players think about these type of things, but I'll bet the parents of all the players do...

The puck was dropped and the Bucs looked pretty good. They were passing and playing as a team. Sioux Falls did not get many quality scoring chances till near the end of the first period, and then Mike Mantua looked good as he stopped all shots. The Bucs had more scoring chances but were unable to convert and the period ended in scoreless tie. Paul Baumgartner seems to taking more shots and I think that is a good thing as he has a great slap shot. Other players such as Rene Gauthier and Stafan Bjurstrom were working hard but have not yet been able to get the goals that their play deserves.

As soon as the second period started you could tell that the Stampede players decided in the locker room that they were going to pick up their play. They were really working hard and getting quality scoring chances. The Bucs held their own until midway through the period when Sioux Falls made it 1-0. About one minute after the goal Mike Mantua passed the puck to Ryan Bennett who saw Mark Langdon behind the defense. The Stampede defense is very good and does not let this happen often. Langdon came on all alone and lit the lamp to tie the game at one goal each. Just 17 seconds later the Stampede scored again to make it 2-1. Mantua looked to have the puck stopped, but it trickled in. Three goals were scored in less than 2 minutes! Both teams tightened up their defense and the period ended 2-1 in favor of the Stampede.

The Bucs began the third period with a powerplay and although they looked pretty good they were unable to score. Unfortunately, the Stampede scored just 2 and a half minutes into the period to make it a 3-1 game. The Bucs penalty kill is one of the worst in the league, and Sioux Falls powerplay is the best, so it is not surprising that the Bucs wanted to stay out of the box. They did not and Sioux Falls scored three powerplay goals in a row to win the game 6-1.

Team Co-Captain Doug Meyer said that one of the things he knew about Des Moines fans was that they stuck by their team through thick and thin. He is right, we do.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
SIOUX FALLS	6	0-2-4	48	12	3-4	Briggs (39-40)
Des Moines	1	0-1-0	40	14	0-3	Mantua (42-48)
SIOUX FALLS: Doyle (2G,A,PP), LaRose (G,A,PP), Massen (GW), Dubel (G,PP),Iannazzo (G)
DES MOINES: Langdon (G)
Attendance: 4,263

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Buccaneers Down Sioux City 6-4

Des Moines, IA (12.30.00): Andy Nelson picked up a short-handed goal - his first of the season and the first for the Buccaneers as a team. The Bucs got scoring from a variety of players, including David Klema (G, A), Ross Carlson (GW, PP), Ryan Bennett (G, PP), Doug Meyer (G), Andy Nelson (G) and Ryan Kirchhoff (G). Mike Mantua stopped 25 of 29 shots.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
DES MOINES	6	3-1-2	48	12	3-4	Mantua (25-29)
Sioux City	4	1-1-2	40	14	0-3	Panik (23-29)
DES MOINES: Klema (G,A), Carlson (GW,PP), Bennett (G,PP), Meyer (G),Nelson (G,SH), Kirchhoff (G)
SIOUX CITY: Fallon (2G,SH), VanDyke (G), Zancanaro (G,PP)
Attendance: 3,056

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Bucs Make it Two in a Row

Des Moines, IA (12.31.00): Ryan Kirchhoff and Doug Meyer each scored two goals to lead the Bucs to a 5-2 victory over the Rochester Mustangs.

After the game, the Bucs skated with the fans to welcome the new year. In the picture below Doug Meyer pleads his case after a Buccaneer penalty.

Kirchhoff (Bennett, Meyer), Bjurstrom (Carlson), Meyer (PP) (Irwin, Bennett), Kirchhoff (Bennett, Klema) and Meyer (EN) (Kirchhoff, Bennett) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Team	Score	Scoring	Shots	PIM	Powerplays	Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots)
DES MOINES	5	1-1-3	42	12	1-4	Mantua (27-29)
Rochester	2	0-1-1	29	12	2-5	Kehler (37-41)
DES MOINES: Meyer (2G,GW,A,PP), Kirchhoff (2G,A), Bennett (4A),Bjurstrom (G)
ROCHESTER: Bagron (G,PP), Hansen (G,PP)
Attendance: 3,350

November Game Summaries	2000-2001 Schedule	January Game Summaries

Disclaimer
This is a game summary and commentary from a Buccaneer fan's point of view, and the viewpoints expressed in this column DO NOT necessarily reflect those of the Des Moines Buccaneer's organization.