Riley Colvard Named Assistant Coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers
DES MOINES, IA – The Des Moines Buccaneers are pleased and excited to announce the addition of Riley Colvard as Assistant Coach.
Head Coach, Matt Curley, said, "our team is getting the full package in Riley Colvard. A seasoned veteran in the USHL, Riley is a trusted colleague, a great coach and a proven winner. His experience and knowledge of our league will both help our staff and players reach new heights on and off the ice. It is a pleasure to welcome Riley his wife Mariah to the Buccaneers and Des Moines community!"
Colvard, a 29-year-old Lino Lakes, MN native played hockey at Centennial High for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Riley was third for total points on the team with 32 in 25 games and led the team in total points the 2010-11 season with 38 points in 25 games. After high school, Colvard went on to play in the North American Hockey League with the Austin Bruins, playing in 12 games the 2011-12 season. Riley was named Captain of the Austin Bruins in the 2012-13 season scoring 28 points in 50 games. The Bruins went 42-11-7 that season. For college, Colvard attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout from 2013-2017.
Senior Advisor and General Manager, Scott Owens, added, "we are very excited to welcome Riley to the Buccaneer organization and family! He's an outstanding hockey coach and equally as good of a person. Riley brings a tremendous amount of USHL experience to the Bucs, something that will be invaluable to our club as the year progresses. His commitment to helping make players better and his overall work ethic helps augment an already strong staff under the leadership of Coach Matt Curley. Welcome on-board Riley!"
Colvard spent the 2017-18 season as Assistant Coach to the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League prior to working in the United States Hockey League for the past four seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede. In his season with the Wilderness, the team went 33-21-6, placing eighth in the league. Riley worked under Bucs Senior Advisor and General Manager, Scott Owens, his first two seasons with the Stampede. In his first season, the Stampede went 39-16-7 and went on to become Clark Cup Champions.
Colvard said of joining the organization, "I am extremely excited to be a part of the Des Moines Buccaneers. I want to thank the Buccaneers ownership group, Scott Owens and Matt Curley for giving me an opportunity to make the transition to such a historic USHL organization. I had the opportunity to work under Scott Owens my first two years in Sioux Falls when he was the Head Coach/General Manager for the Stampede, and I am thrilled to be able to work with him again. Also, I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with and learn from Matt Curley this upcoming season, along with the rest of the coaching staff. My wife and I are looking forward to our transition to Des Moines and are excited for the upcoming season."
Riley Colvard will join Head Coach, Matt Curley, and Assistant Coach, Garrett Cecere behind the bench this season.
