January Game Commentary
Gamblers Top Bucs 4-2
Green Bay, WI (1.5.01): Green Bay took a two goal first period lead and went on to take a 4-2 win. Andy Nelson brought the Bucs within one in the second period, but it was the last goal the Gambler defense would allow.
Chiodo (Klema) and Nelson (unassisted) scored for the Bucs. Morrissey was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREEN BAY | 4 | 2-1-1 | 32 | 10 | 0-4 | Penko (30-32) |
| Des Moines | 2 | 0-1-1 | 32 | 8 | 0-5 | Morrissey (28-32) |
| GREEN BAY: Stauffacher (G,A), Hammond (GW), Degenhardt (G), Contois (G) | ||||||
| DES MOINES: Nelson (G), Chiodo (G) | ||||||
| Attendance: 2,803 | ||||||
Waterloo Hands Bucs 3-2 Loss
Waterloo, IA (1.6.01): Stefan Bjurstrom scored just 14 seconds into the game, but Waterloo countered with 3 unanswered goals to hand the Bucs their second loss in a row. The Bucs now return home to face league leading Sioux Falls and Lincoln.
Bjurstrom (Chiodo) and Meyer (PP) (Yurecko, Reimers) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATERLOO | 3 | 1-2-0 | 28 | 33 | 1-7 | Hanna (27-29) |
| Des Moines | 2 | 1-0-1 | 29 | 25 | 1-6 | Mantua (25-28) |
| WATERLOO: Nikle (2G,GW), Falite (G,PP) | ||||||
| DES MOINES: Bjurstrom (G), Meyer (G,PP) | ||||||
| Attendance: 2,763 | ||||||
Jim Scatchell joins Des Moines from the Dubuque Fighting Saints where he was the captain.
Third Period Dooms Bucs
Des Moines, IA (1.12.01): The league leading Sioux Falls Stampede scored 7 unanswered goals - 5 in the third period - to blast the Bucs 8-2. It was one of those games where if you just saw the first period and then heard the final score you would scratch your head and say, "what happened? the Bucs were doing so good in the first period."
David Klema opened the scoring just 5 minutes into the game when he skated in all alone and scored to make it 1-0. The Bucs took a 2-1 lead with just a minute remaining in the first period when Gus Groslie scored his first goal as a Buccaneer. Klema (Bennett), Groslie (PP) (Klema) scored for the Buccaneers. Mantua was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIOUX FALLS | 8 | 1-2-5 | 38 | 12 | 2-4 | Sikich (28-30) |
| Des Moines | 1 | 0-1-0 | 30 | 12 | 1-3 | Mantua (30-38) |
| SIOUX FALLS: Jensen (2G,GW,PP), Iannazzo (G,A), Bittner (G,A,PP), Vanek (G,A), Doyle (G), Funk (G), Massen (G) | ||||||
| DES MOINES: Klema (G,A), Groslie (G,PP) | ||||||
| Attendance: 3,100 | ||||||
Stars Blast Bucs
Des Moines, IA (1.13.01): The Buccaneers fell to the Lincoln Stars 8-1, their fourth loss in a row. In the last 4 games the Bucs have only scored 7 goals, while the opposition has scored 23.
The Bucs played to a 1-1 tie in the first period, but it all came apart for the Bucs early in the second period when Lincoln scored 4 goals. Coach Carroll although disappointed in the loss is still optimistic about the team, and said it will just take time for the new players to gell as a team. For more on the new players, see Craig Hagkull's story. Yurecko (PP) (unassisted) scored for the Bucs. Mantua and Morrissey were in goal for the Bucs.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 8 | 1-4-3 | 40 | 41 | 2-4 | Fritz (23-24) |
| Des Moines | 1 | 1-0-0 | 24 | 41 | 1-8 | Mantua (16-21) |
| LINCOLN: Schneider (2G,A,2PP), Magnusen (GW,A), Callander (G,A), Hengen (G,A), Van Dyke (G), Snowden (G), Frischman (G,PP) | ||||||
| DES MOINES: Yurecko (G,PP) | ||||||
| Attendance: 3,413 | ||||||
After scoring a powerplay goal and a brief celebration, Doug Meyer, Joe Campbell, Ryan Kirchhoff and Ryan Bennett skate back to the bench.
Bucs Win in OT
Des Moines, IA (1.19.01): Veteran Buccaneer Ryan Kirchhoff scored a powerplay goal midway through the third period to give the Bucs what looked to be a safe 5-2 lead. The Bucs had allowed only 12 shots on goal until that point.
Chicago battled back and tied the game with :54 seconds remaining. Ironically, it was a slick pass from former Buccaneer Rene Gauthier that set the goal up. In overtime, Ryan Bennett was pulled down by Gauthier to prevent a breakaway, and the Bucs found themselves on a powerplay.
Wade Chiodo picked up his third goal on the year to give the Bucs a 6-5 overtime win. The Bucs were 3 for 5 on the powerplay for the night.
Yurecko (klema, Jernberg), Meyer (PP) (Kirchhoff, Bennett), Groslie (Klema), Nelson (unassisted), Kirchhoff (PP) (Meyer, Bennett) and Chiodo (PP) (Jernberg) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES MOINES | 6 (OT) | 1-2-2-1 | 44 | 27 | 3-5 | Mantua (24-29) |
| Chicago | 5 | 1-1-3-0 | 29 | 21 | 2-7 | Ackley (38-44) |
| DES MOINES: Chiodo (GW,A,PP), Meyer (G,A,PP), Kirchhoff (G,A,PP), Nelson (G), Groslie (G), Yurecko (G) | ||||||
| CHICAGO: Gauthier (G,2A,PP), McLean (G,2A,PP), Gron (G,A), Haider (G), Bastl (G) |
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| Attendance: 3,181 | ||||||
Kirchhoff Scores 2 in Win
Rochester, MN (1.20.01): Ryan Kirchhoff had another great night as he beat Rochester goalie Wayne Russelll twice to give the Bucs a 2-1 victory. Last night Ryan had a goal and an assist. Jason Brown, his first night in goal as a Buccaneer, looked sharp as he made 24 saves. The Buccaneers played a disciplined game, putting 38 shots on goal and taking only two penalties.
Kirchhoff (unassisted) and Kirchhoff (Fournier, Meyer) scored for the Bucs. Brown was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 2 | 1-2-2-1 | 38 | 4 | 0-6 | Brown (24-25) |
| ROCHESTER | 1 | 1-1-3-0 | 25 | 12 | 0-2 | Russell (36-38) |
| DES MOINES: Kirchhoff (2G,GW) | ||||||
| ROCHESTER: Vinz (G) | ||||||
| Attendance: N/A | ||||||
Bucs Win Shoot-Out
Dubuque, IA (1.24.01): The Buccaneers beat Dubuque 5-4 in a thriller that went all the way to a shoot-out. Wade Chiodo tied the game early in the third period and Ryan Bennett gave the Bucs a 4-3 lead. The Fighting Saints pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and with just 13 seconds left put one past Mike Mantua to send the game into overtime.
Neither team scored in the overtime, but Wade Chiodo, Dave Klema and Doug Meyer scored in the shoot-out to give the Bucs the win.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 5 (SO) | 1-1-2-1 | 38 | 18 | 2-7 | Mantua (40-44) |
| ROCHESTER | 4 | 2-1-1-0 | 44 | 26 | 3-7 | Ruden (34-38) |
| DES MOINES: Irwin (G,A), Groslie (G), Chiodo (G,PP), Bennett (G,PP) | ||||||
| DUBUQUE: Foster (2G,A,PP), Pennington (G,2A,PP), Fulghum (G,A,PP) | ||||||
| Attendance: 281 | ||||||
Seconds after scoring, Ryan Bennett raises his stick in celebration.
OT Win Makes it Four-in-a-Row
Des Moines, IA (1.26.01): The Buccaneers made it four-in-a-row beating Waterloo 4-3 in overtime. Three of the last four wins have been decided in overtime or shoot-outs.
The Bucs gave up a goal in the first minute of play and were behind 2-1 at the end of the first period. The Bucs scored two unanswered goals in the second period - Luke Irwin's slap shot tied it up and a semi-break by Andy Nelson made it 3-2. The game-winner came one minute into the overtime period when James Jernberg forced a turnover and Joe Campbell powered his way towards the net. David Klema anticipated the play and took a pass on the other side of the ice to bury the puck and win the game.
Bennett (Meyer, Kirchhoff), Irwin (Kirchhoff, Meyer), Nelson (Chiodo, Langdon) and Klema (Campbell) scored for the Bucs. Brown was in goal.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES MOINES | 4 (OT) | 1-2-0-1 | 35 | 15 | 2-7 | Brown (14-17) |
| Waterloo | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 17 | 23 | 0-1 | Hanna (31-35) |
| DES MOINES: Klema (GW), Bennett (G), Irwin (G), Nelson (G) | ||||||
| WATERLOO: Markham (G), Grubb (G), Hammel (G) | ||||||
| Attendance: 3,060 | ||||||
Bucs Roll in Penalty Filled Game
Waterloo, IA (1.27.01): In a game filled with ninety minutes of penalties, the Buccaneers went 5 for 17 on the powerplay to beat Waterloo 7-2. The Bucs killed off all nine of Waterloo's powerplays.
Waterloo opened the scoring midway through the first period and by the end of the second period the Bucs held a 3-2 lead. Doug Meyer got the first of what would be 4 third period goals to give the Bucs the victory. the Bucs had 49 shots on goal.
Yurecko (PP) (Groslie), Meyer (PP) (Unassisted), Groslie (PP) (Reimers, Chiodo), Meyer (PP) (Unassisted), Chiodo (Unassisted), Groslie (PP) (Irwin, Reimers) and Nelson (unassisted) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal and faced 24 shots.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 7 | 1-2-4 | 49 | 29 | 5-18 | Mantua (24-26) |
| WATERLOO | 2 | 1-1-0 | 26 | 59 | 0-6 | Marr (42-49) |
| DES MOINES: Groslie (2G,GW,A,2PP), Meyer (2G,2PP), Chiodo (G,2A), Nelson (G), Yurecko (G,PP) | ||||||
| WATERLOO: Langenbrunner (G), Nikle (G) | ||||||
| Attendance: 3,223 | ||||||
Six-in-a-row For The Bucs
Lincoln, NE (1.30.01): The Buccaneers defeated the USHL league leading Lincoln Stars 6-2, making it six-in-a-row for the Bucs. The Bucs played 60 minutes of solid, confident hockey to win their fourth game in seven days. The Bucs went 1-3 on the powerplay, scored two short-handed goals, and held Lincoln to 0-4 on the powerplay. It was Lincoln's first home loss in regulation time.
The game did not begin well for the Bucs as Lincoln scored on their first shot with less than 2 minutes gone in the game. The Bucs fought back as Andy Nelson scored a short-handed goal and Ryan Kirchhoff connected to give the Bucs a 2-1 first period lead.
Zach Schwan scored his first goal as a Buc just a minute into the second period to score the third of five unanswered goals for the Bucs. Andy Nelson finished off the Buc scoring to notch his second short-handed goal of the night.
Nelson (SH) (Unassisted), Kirchhoff (Bennett), Schwan (Kirchhoff, Martensson), Campbell (PP) (Chiodo), and Nelson (SH) (Unassisted). Mantua was in goal and made 48 saves.
| Team | Score | Scoring | Shots | PIM | Powerplays | Winning Goalie (Saves-Shots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 6 | 2-3-1 | 24 | 8 | 1-3 | Mantua (48-50) |
| LINCOLN | 2 | 1-1-0 | 50 | 16 | 0-4 | Marr (42-49) |
| DES MOINES: Nelson (2G,2SH), Kirchhoff (G,2A), Schwan (GW), Bennett (G,A), Campbell (G,PP) | ||||||
| LINCOLN: Frischman (G,A), Marvin (G) | ||||||
| Attendance: 5,010 | ||||||
| December Game Summaries | 2000-2001 Schedule | February Game Summaries |
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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.