General | 2/17/2026 9:00:00 PM

Des Moines earned a hard-fought 4–1 victory over the Lincoln Stars in a competitive battle from start to finish.

By The Numbers

20 - Assists of the season by Des Moines Buccaneers Blake Zielinski

2 - Short handed goals for Des Moines Buccaneers forward Owen Tylec

16 - Shots on goals limited by Des Moines Buccaneers defense and goalie Alan Lendak against the Lincoln Stars.

Three Stars

1st Star: Owen Tylec, F, Des Moines Buccaneers
2G, GWG, 3 Shots,

2nd Star: Ryland Randle, D, Des Moines Buccaneers
2A, 1 Shot

3rd Star: Henry Major  F, Des Moines Buccaneers
2A, +1 

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).