Alan Lendak discusses mid-season trade, World Junior experience and the future of his hockey career
As the Des Moines Buccaneers find themselves at 15-18-3-4 through 40 games, good for sixth place in the United States Hockey League’s Western Conference, newly acquired goaltender Alan Lendak is going to be tasked with helping lead the team as they try to hunt down a playoff spot.
Acquired in a trade with the Fargo Force on Dec. 23, during the holiday break, Lendak has suited up in eight games for the Buccaneers upon returning from the World Juniors. In the eight games, Lendak has posted a 5-3-0 record, 2.67 goals-against average and 0.891 save percentage.
“It’s been a great experience coming to Des Moines, getting to meet my teammates while taking the next step in my hockey career,” Lendak said. “I didn't have a lot of time to think about it, coming straight from the World Juniors and getting into games right away with my new team.”
Overall this season, Lendak has appeared in 19 games, with both the Force and Buccaneers, posting a 10-9-0 record with a 2.54 goals-against average and 0.906 save percentage, while also recording one shutout. A big reason for the move to North America for Lendak was the competitive nature that the 19-year-old had heard when asking about the USHL.
“The USHL is one of the best junior leagues in the world, so it was a no-brainer when Fargo selected me in the second round,” Lendak said. “The league speaks for itself.”
In Lendak’s first season, the netminder appeared in 40 games, going 20-17-2 with a 2.97 goals-against average and 0.895 save percentage, helping lead the Force to fifth place in the West.
“Right now, we have three Slovakian goalies in the league, and there were even more last year,” Lendak said. “This is big for Slovakian hockey and just gives a great look about the work that’s been done with our goalie schools.”
Lendak has now competed at two World Juniors, first in Ottawa in 2025, then again at the 2026 tournament in Minnesota. The experience of wearing his home country's colours was something that the netminder will always cherish.
“It’s been such an honour to play for my country, wear the logo and represent Slovakia at the biggest Junior Championship,” Lendak said. “It was my last World Juniors, so I just tried to enjoy my time with my teammates, my time on the ice and make my country proud.”
In 2026, Lendak appeared in parts of two games, going 0-1 with a 4.10 goal-against average and 0.889 save percentage. In Slovakia’s first game of the tournament, during a 3-2 loss against the eventual champion Swedes, Lendak turned aside 29-of-32 shots, earning himself Player of the Game honours for Slovakia.
“It was such an honour, it felt great to be in the game for the full 60 minutes against the championship-winning team,” Lendak said. “It’s just great to know that other people appreciated that I gave it my all during that game.”
With 22 games left to play, Lendak is focused on getting this Buccaneers team into the playoffs, while also hoping to continue on the developmental path of reaching the next level.
“I want to play as much as possible and help Des Moines get as many wins as possible, so we keep getting better as a team,” Lendak said. “I want to go to a college after this season, that is a very big goal of mine.”