ST. PAUL — It seemed like everybody in Alan Landak’s hockey circle knew of the trade before he did.
On Dec. 22, the 19-year-old Slovakian goalie was preparing for the final World Junior Championship Pre-Tournament Series game in Bemidji. He didn’t play in Slovakia’s first exhibition for Latvia, but he got the nod against Czechia, one of the contenders to win the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
However, hours before the game, the Fargo Force finalized a United States Hockey League trade, sending Landak to the Des Moines Buccaneers.
“We had the game against Czechia and nobody wanted to tell me I got traded,” Lendak said. “The next day, the GM from Fargo, Brett Skinner, called me in the morning and said, ‘Hey, we traded you.’ He said they enjoyed having me and … it’s best for me. I can play a lot of games in Des Moines.”
Landak stopped all 17 shots he faced against Czechia after the trade. He got a call from the Buccaneers on Christmas Eve welcoming him to the organization.
In the meantime, Landak parlayed his pre-tournament showing into a WJC-opening start on Friday afternoon against Sweden at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Once again, Landak stood tall. He stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in an upset bid, earning Slovakia’s Player of the Game honor in a 3-2 loss. Sweden scored just one even-strength goal — Ivar Stenberg finished a highlight reel sequence with just under four minutes left in regulation for the winner.
“It was a great game. Tough luck, obviously,” Lendak said. “We have a game tomorrow, so we have to get prepared for that.”
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
Slovakian coach Peter Fruhauf added, “You prepare for your opponent. You prepare for a situation that’s going to be a threat for the team. You go with the goalie who has the best capabilities to save the day, which he did. It was an outstanding job from him and the right decision.”
Landak was having a good season for the Force before heading to the WJC. Through 11 starts, he totaled a 2.45 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
But among the USHL teams that needed goaltending, Des Moines is one of them.
Of the Buccaneers’ goalies who logged games this season, none of Max Weilandt (.877), Logan Hughes (.867), nor Andrew Bely hold save percentages over .900. Weilandt has started a majority of the games for the Buccaneers and has a 2.85 GAA.
Meanwhile, Lendak split time with Ajay White in Fargo. The Force sit in second place in the Western Conference (15-10-1-1, 32 points). Des Moines is in sixth place with 24 points (9-11-2-4).
“I was kind of surprised … but now I’m excited,” Lendak said. “I’m obviously focusing on the World Juniors. I don’t really care if I got traded or something right now. I don’t care about the USHL right now; I will care after the tournament. Obviously, Des Moines is a great spot. I’m excited to join them.”
Lendak’s first season with the Force was solid, posting a 2.97 GAA and a .895 save percentage in 40 regular-season appearances.
“I used to play juniors in Slovakia when I was 17,” Lendak said. “I didn’t see a way to get better and better. Obviously, it’s hard to play pro in Slovakia when you’re 17, especially when you’re a goalie. I had an offer from Fargo; they wanted me. They drafted me in the USHL Draft. The USHL is a hard league, one of the best leagues in the world. I’m super happy to play there.”
This year’s WJC is Landak’s second. His first was less than stellar, to say the least.
In two games with the Slovaks a year ago in Ottawa, Landak was 0-2 with a 6.10 goals-against average and a .767 save percentage. He was primarily in second-string duty behind Samuel Urban.
“Last year, I was the backup,” Lendak said. “I kind of tried to follow my partner and what he was doing. Obviously, (you want) to just enjoy the game.”
When Landak exits the World Junior Championship, he will have some logistics to figure out in getting to Des Moines.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Lendak said with a laugh when asked what happens with his belongings currently in Fargo. “I’ll care about it after World Juniors.”
Full tournament coverage
Click on the image above to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.
Click on image to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.
