Cedar Rapids, Iowa — The Des Moines Buccaneers (24-27-4-4) fell 4-1 in their final Dupaco Cowbell Cup matchup against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (34-16-3-6) Friday night at ImOn Ice Arena. The Buccaneers fell behind in their offensive efforts, only seeing ten shots on goal through all three periods. The RoughRiders' special teams played a crucial role in their win as they capitalized on two power-play opportunities and saw a short-handed goal. Connor Davis netted both second-period goals for the RoughRiders. The Bucs look ahead to a Tuesday night matchup in Sioux Falls as they face the Stampede on March 31 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
Forward Jason Musa's shot from the right-wing circle opened the scoring of the match on the power play at 15:47, bringing the Riders the initial 1-0. Braiden Scuderi doubled the Cedar Rapids lead at 2-0 with another power-play goal at 19:07.
Forward Connor Davis put up two for the Riders in the middle frame, the first on a short-handed opportunity at 8:27, finding the Des Moines back door to show a score of 3-0. Davis' second of the night bounced off a Buccaneer defenseman's skate into the net to extend the Cedar Rapids advantage at 4-0.
Bucs forward Blake Zielinski forced the puck past the Cedar Rapids netminder 5:19 into the final frame for his 25th goal on the season. Zielinski's tally was assisted by Ryland Randle and Owen Tylec and brought the final score to 4-1.
The Bucs head to Sioux Falls for a matchup against the Stampede next Tuesday, Mar. 31, at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The Buccaneers' road streak ends in Sioux City on Friday, Apr. 3, as they take on the Musketeers at Tyson Events Center. The Bucs return for their final home game of the regular season on Saturday, April 4, as they host the Sioux City Musketeers at 6:05 p.m. It is Fan Appreciation Night, featuring a team photo magnet giveaway at the door and a post-game autograph session with the entire Bucs team! The Bucs will also be hosting their annual Doxie Dash in partnership with the Animal Rescue League, a shoot-to-win competition for the chance to win a prize from Off Course Golf Carts, and another intermission game for the chance to win a lawnmower from Clive Power Equipment. It's also our final Coors Mug Club and Tito's Saturday! Don't miss out on the action! Buy your tickets here.
2026-27 season tickets available now! More information
here.
Purchase your new merchandise from the Bucs Galley today!
About the Buccaneers
Founded in 1980, the Des Moines Buccaneers are a proud member of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the nation's premier junior hockey league. The Bucs have a history of success in the USHL, including 4 Clark Cup Championships, 4 Anderson Cup Championships, and 54 alumni drafted to the National Hockey League, including Stanley Cup Champions Kyle Okposo, Alex Chiasson, Trevor Lewis, Davis Drewiske, and Erik Cole. The organization is committed to developing young players on and off the ice, preparing them for a future in collegiate and professional careers. Known for their passionate fan base, the Bucs play their home games at The MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, a multi-sport complex in West Des Moines, Iowa.
To learn more, visit www.bucshockey.com or follow the Bucs on social media: @bucshockey on X and Instagram, @desmoinesbuccaneers on TikTok, and Des Moines Buccaneers on Facebook. For more information about ticket packages, including season and group outings, please contact (515) 278-2827.
