Fargo and Des Moines Make Trade Before Playoff Push

Are you still trying to get your last-minute Christmas shopping done? The same can be said for front offices in the USHL. On Tuesday, the Des Moines Buccaneers and Fargo Force announced a trade that will have a significant impact on the Western Conference playoff picture. Des Moines is sending forwards Nate Delladonna and Wyatt Kuznik (affiliate player) and a 2026 Phase II Round 1 draft pick to Fargo in exchange for goaltender Alan Lendak and a 2027 Phase II Round 4 draft pick. 

For Des Moines, adding Lendak will have an immediate impact to a team with a -14 goal differential halfway through the season. Lendak, the native of Nitra, Slovakia, is in his second year in North America. Last season with Fargo, he played in 40 games and put up a goals against average of 2.97 and a save percentage of 0.895%. Fargo finished 5th in the Western Conference and were bounced by Sioux City in the first round of the playoffs in just 2 games. In Des Moines, Lendak will compete with Max Weilandt (0.877% SV%, 9-7-5 record) for starts between the pipes.

Lendak represented his country in the 2024-25 World Junior Championship, playing twice and giving up 7 goals. He will get a chance at redemption this week, as he was named to Slovakia’s World Juniors team set to begin competition December 26th against Sweden. He'll be joined at the competition in Minnesota by fellow USHL netminder, Michal Pradel. 

Fargo will be looking to add some much needed offense to their lineup. Despite sitting in second place in the Western Conference, Fargo is 14th (of 16) in goals scored through 27 games played. Nate Delladonna, who hails from Brewerton, New York, will join the Force tied for third in team scoring with 8 goals and 6 assists (14 points) through 26 games.

Delladonna will also bring some leadership when he moves to North Dakota, having earned alternate captain honors with the Buccaneers. After his time in the USHL, "Dells" will play in the NCAA for the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Delladonna will be joined by affiliate player, Wyatt Kuznik, currently playing high school hockey in Minnesota.

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This trade fills a gap for both teams looking to prepare for a run to the Clark Cup Playoffs. Des Moines will begin the second half with just one game this weekend, hosting the Tri-City Storm on December 27th. Fargo, however, opens with a tough road trip to Sioux Falls Saturday followed by another trip down I-29 to Omaha on Sunday.