Ashwaubenon, WI (4/7/00): The Buccaneers fell in overtime to the Green Bay Gamblers, 4-3. The Buccaneers played a solid game, but a defensive mistake cost them the game just one minute into overtime.

The Buccaneers opened scoring with a first period blast from Paul Baumgartner, then saw the Gamblers score two goals to take a 2-1 first period lead. Rob Novak tied the game early in the second period and Ryan Bennett put the Bucs in front 3-2, just 57 seconds into the third period. The Gamblers tied it midway in the third period to send the game into overtime.

Baumgartner (Kim), Novak (Torretti, Chiodo), and Bennett (Kim, Larranaga) scored for the Bucs in regulation time. Mantua was in goal.

Rant

The Gamblers were next on our list for domination, but instead of playing in Green Bay, we were playing in Ashwaubenon Wisconsin. Proceeding the game was a snow storm throughout the midwest with as much as 14 inches in North Dakota and 4 inches and counting in Wisconsin. Fans who decided not to make the long trip to the colder regions of Wisconsin were gathered in the warmth of Daytona's enjoying the game on the radio.

Congratulations to Clemmensen who won along with his BC Eagles Thursday to go on and play North Dakota for the finals. The Frozen Four is in Providence Rhode Island and Friday night they were watching Waterfire, where they light the river on fire. If you're interested, the final game will be on ESPN at 7:30 Saturday night. Clem has broken several BC records in his goalie career in college so far, so it would be great to watch him win the championship. We wish all the best of luck to you, Scott, and hope you come away with a much deserved championship this year!

The first period of the series wasn't too bad, we ended up tying with the Gamblers. Baumgartner getting the first goal at 7:56 (Kim) and Green Bay tying about forty seconds later. Penalties were low in the period, which was good, and it wasn't until the second period that the Bucs came away with the lead. This lead was due to Robby Novak, who I feel has been outstanding lately (Torretti, Chiodo) 2:40 into the period.

In the third period we began the slow crawl to yet another period, a curse from the former Green Bay games. However this one would end in disappointment for the Bucs. After getting a goal from Bennett in the third (Kim, Larranaga) and an answering goal from Green Bay we went into OT where on a fatal move from the net by Mantua the Gamblers would win the game. Hopefully we can steal Saturday's game from Green Bay to come home with a split.

Green Bay built a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, scoring goals two and three just 24 seconds apart. The Bucs fought back as Jerrid Reinholz and Ryan Bennett scored two minutes apart to cut the lead to 3-2. Green Bay scored with 30 seconds left in the second period to give the Gamblers a 4-2 lead. The Bucs put an extra attacker on the ice with 2 minutes remaining, but it was too little, too late.

Reinholz (Durak, Riddle) and Bennett (Kim, Larranaga) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Mantua!

Des Moines, IA (4/13/00): Mike Mantua got his first shutout of the year, as the Buccaneers defeated Green Bay 3-0. Mike faced 30 shots, while the Buc offense pumped out 40 on Green Bay. Coach Carroll said that it was a solid win for the team, as everyone contributed to the shutout.

Ryan Kirchhoff opened the scoring four minutes into the first period with a blast from the circle. Jerrid Reinholz scored early in the second period to make it 2-0. Troy Riddle turned on the afterburners and skated past a defender like he was standing still to score just 8 seconds into the third period. The Buc defense was forced to play the last 2 minutes of the game shorthanded and with 9 seconds left killed off the 6 on 3 Green Bay advantage.

The win forced game number four which will be played in Des Moines this Friday night. All fans are encouraged to wear white to support the team.

Kirchhoff (Klema), Reinholz (Larranaga) and Riddle (Sejna) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Rant

The Bucs had already lost the first two games of the Green Bay series. The Gamblers only had to win one more to come away with the victory, but it wasn't hard to guess it would be difficult for them to pull away with a sweep on our turf. Green Bay failing to reserve hotel rooms it seemed an omen of what would happen.

Green Bay not only lost the third game, they lost in a very big way, with a big fat 0. So it seems that the Buccaneers came away with everything, leaving the Gamblers nothing. The arena was loud and full for a Thursday night and White Out was still in full swing and doing very well. The first period was crucial to the rest of the game, it was when the Bucs established full domination. We scored a goal early in the period from Kirschhoff (Klema) and Mantua was rock solid in net and steadily climbing to what would be his first shut out. Throughout the play-offs he's done well, and he only proved himself to the fans once more Thursday night.

For the next two periods the total three goals that would be scored all came at the beginning of the periods. The Reinholz goal glanced off the bar and went into the net at 6:13 (Larranaga). Mantua continued his onslaught as well and came up with the best save I'd seen all year, when he actually threw his stick across to the other side of the net when he couldn't cover the area with his body. Simply amazing. Troy Riddle was the last player to get a goal on the night and this too came at the beginning of the third period (Sejna).

When the Bucs were handed the penalties at the end of the period they would once again tell Green Bay "forget it." It was truly a good night for Buccaneer fans and players!

Kim gets hat-trick in 6-1 win

Des Moines, IA (4/14/00): Alex Kim opened the scoring a minute and a half into the first period, scored the game winner early in the second period, and then picked up his hat-trick with three minutes left in the game. It was quite a night for Alex, and the entire Buc team as they have now outscored the Gamblers by a 9-1 margin in the last two games.

Coach Carroll said that the two convincing wins shows the character of the team and he likes their chances to advance to the final round against the winner of the Lincoln - Twin Cities series.

The Buccaneer win forces a final game this Sunday night in Ashwaubenon, WI (just south of Green Bay) to determine which team advances to the final round of the Clark Cup series.

Kim (Torretti, Bennett), Kim (Torretti), Bennett (Kim), Sejna (Bennett, Reinholz), Kim (EN) (Unassisted) and Novak (EN) (Chiodo, Reinholz) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Rant

I think that every Buccaneer fan knew we could come away with a victory for the fourth and final home game of the season. After seeing a defeated Green Bay team the night before, I too knew the chances were very good. Though the arena wasn't packed full, it was as loud as it has been for most of the playoffs. White was still the color of choice.

Perhaps the 6 goal win was as big as the shut out from the night before, but maybe the biggest thrill of all was watching Kim and his hard work. He had to take honors for that night, considering he came away with four points and was one of the hardest working players out there. If the older players of the team...the leaders...can't shine through in the playoffs with hard work to help carry the rest of the team on, then you might as well quit. Friday night, though, I can think of four players who shone the brightest. Kim, Torretti, Bennet and Mantua, all helped to make the win possible for Friday night. That's not to say that the rest of the team didn't help out, but obviously you have nights where some have game, and some do not. Luckily Mantua has been there for almost every play-off game so far.

We have established ourselves firmly now in a fight for the last game on Sunday with the last two wins. After solidy beating Green Bay, allowing them little opportunities, giving them nothing, perhaps we have taken them down a notch or two from the team that didn't think they would have to stay Thursday night in Des Moines, Iowa.

It all started when Kim scored the first goal of the game in the first period. Mantua denied Green Bay for the fourth consecutive period and it wouldn't be until halfway through the second period that Green Bay would finally get their first and only goal at the Metro Ice Arena of the series. The game remained tied throughout the second period, which seemed to lag a little with the Bucs, but they came back in the third. There was nothing stopping them then.

Scoring three unanswered goals in the third period alone, the Bucs pulled off the 6-1 victory. Kim once again got the first goal of the third period in less then five minutes (Torretti). It would go on that way for over ten minutes before Ryan Bennett would score the third goal after having gotten taken down to the ice by a deliberate high stick just minutes before (Kim). With less then three minutes left Sejna got the fourth goal (Bennett, Reinholz) and just a few seconds later after Penko was pulled Kim scored the empty net goal. Penko, the giant, was now getting his name chanted over and over again and I was trying to pull myself together after recieving a beer shower from some very excited fans. The final goal was scored by hard working Robby Novak and this was also an empty net goal (Chiodo, Reinholz). It seemed worthless to pull Penko anymore if the Bucs were able to hit the empty net once again!

The Bucs can win this series by taking the last three games and I think they know that. So let's go Bucs! Oh and one more note, before I forget...congratulations to Erik Cole for his decision to go pro. All kudos to you and I wish you the best of luck, you were always a great guy! Now I wish I had bought your jersey when I had the chance, but I opted to pay my car insurance instead...stupid, stupid, stupid!

A mixture of bad calls and hustle by the Gamblers led to 3 unanswered goals in the first 3 minutes of the second period to give Green Bay a 4-2 lead. The Bucs were unable to recover and Green Bay advanced to the final round to face the Twin Cities Vulcans. Since Green Bay is already in the national tournament as the host team, Twin Cities will also advance regardless if they win or lose. Training Camp starts June 6 - see you there!

Sejna (Reinholz, Larranaga) and Kirchhoff (Kim, Berry) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Rant

It was on a rainy Sunday that the Bucs would lose the last possible game of the semifinals, the game started at 4 in the afternoon. Twin Cities defeated Lincoln in three games after having lost their first two, it gave encouragement to us, since we lost our first two, unfortunately it also meant that Green Bay would be playing them in the best of seventh game for the Clark Cup.

A delay in the game could not have helped anyone, and when it became over three minutes, it obviously got worse. This came about from a penalty that was called at the beginning of the first period. It seemed to work more in favor of the Gamblers though, then for us. Because on the power play GB scored at 1:43. The lead didn't last long though, because at 2:21 on a power play Sejna took it back for us with a tie (Reinholz, Larranaga). Before the five minute mark both teams were tied, but by 8:30 we broke that tie. Ryan Kirchhoff did the honors getting his second goal of the playoffs (Kim, Berry).

Leaving the period on very good terms, everything seemed completely hopeful. Unfortunately that would all change from the second period and on. It wouldn't be hard for the Gamblers to put another one in the net at the amount they had shot on us in the first period, but still the lead was definitely ours and would be at least until the second period struck. It would be all over in two minutes then.

It was after a bad call from the ref that the Gamblers would tie the game. Finger wouldn't take long to score the third goal. It became a blow out at 3:15 when the Gamblers scored the fourth goal. It would be 4-2 for the remainder of the second period and until we went into the third period where the Gamblers took a three goal lead.

Brad and Rob were right, the next goal in the third period would be the deciding factor, and at 6:11 of the third period when Green Bay scored, it was the last we would see of the Buccaneer team. In the last minutes of the game the Buccaneers were no longer a team, but individual players. Mantua tried to end his last game with the third fight of his season, but Penko wasn't going. Even the last hope of a penalty shot when Dallas Steward took the goalies position in his own hands by freezing the puck in the crease, didn't happen. With an empty net at the end of the game the Gamblers had beat us by a four goal margin.

The season was over and now we have to look forward to next year and the training camp. It was a good season and we saw plenty of good hockey throughout the playoffs. I am going to admit right now, that I hope Twin Cities wins. It's their last season in Minnesota, wouldn't it be great if they could come away with the Clark Cup and perhaps the Gold as well?

Clark Cup Round 1 | 1999-2000 Schedule

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.