DATE: January 6, 1996 (during the radio broadcast)
OPPONENT: Thunder Bay Flyers
So we get to hear from our captain, recently back from the Viking Cup (a national championship game), next as I listen to the broadcast. Does our captain know that his hair is disgusting? Yes he enjoyed playing with USA on his jersey and playing against those soft Europeans (they don't check you know). Thunder Bay has scored, making it 4-2. At least the Bucs have one more than they did last night. Can we win? That's something I wonder about frequently this season. The Bucs are taking too many penalties, but up in Thunder Bay that can't be helped. The zebra's call what they see, and they see it all.
We have few defense suited up for tonight's game. Terry Harris, Adrian Fure, and Christian Laden are suspended. Whatever for? They didn't do anything in that scuffle (fight) after and during the game!! Regg Simon is playing defense tonight, he normally plays on the wing. Lucky for Owens he's able to switch Regg when he needs more help on the D.
Let me talk frankly, it seems that the Buccaneers just give up. Seriously, the other team gets them down a few goals and they run and whine like whipped puppies. Hey, I love the Bucs as much as any other Des Moines hockey fan, but. . .
Guenther is to go off again! Too many penalties. So who is Dan Guenther anyway, and where is he from. Todd Kimm (the announcer), you need to tell us about these new players, where they come from and how we got them.
I hear that the newest member of our team is from Calgary, Alberta. Yes, we finally got a player from Canada!! Lucas Kirsch, playing on defense and doing good (at least you hear his name all the time).
Bailey shoots, he scores!!!!!!!!! Yes, yes, yes, finally!!! Ten minutes left (4-3) and we might have a chance to tie, maybe.
Thunder Bay just scored again it is 5-3. Andy took a penalty and the Flyers capitalized. The three new guys Hanson, Guenther, and Kirsch seem to be very good. Hanson was traded for Erik Day. It was a shock to hear Erik was traded, but life goes on and soon we forgot as Hanson proves his worth.
Thunder Bay won tonight's match up, racking up 21 power plays, a few too many penalties don't you think? Thunder Bay swept us.
Adam Morris scored the first goal with an assist to Kaebel. The second goal was taken by Dan Guenther, assist to Mike Nooyen. Our last goal was gotten by Bailey with an assist to Birrenkott. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Thunder Bay 5
DATE: January 12, 1996 (from the home game)
OPPONENT: Sioux City Musketeers
Was it too cold up at NMU for somebody? That somebody would be Bobby Davis, he's back! Ricky Smith has gone back to his high school to play hockey and Bobby Davis has taken Ricky's number, and yes Bobby's stick is still free from any tape. (I knew I saw Bobby Davis earlier today at the rink!) It would seem that he has helped the team, because they won tonight, and played the best hockey I've seen them play all season. They played as a team, passed the puck, killed penalties, and took very few penalties. In short, I couldn't find much to complain about. They played good hockey.
You would think that getting rid of so many players and constantly loosing players, that they wouldn't be cementing as a team. That they would basically be falling apart because you wouldn't know if you were coming or going. But I guess not! I was proven wrong tonight.
Hey Coach, I think you've finally got your team. You can work with these players and they're working for you. I have been very skeptical, I did not like losing players, but the players we gain have been wonderful!
A new zamboni was on the ice tonight! A sleek red, white, and blue machine that cleaned that ice completely. I here it scrapes the ice better than the other zambonis.
Terry Harris must still be suspended, Chris Antzoulatos, Ryan Bencurik who's recovering from a knee injury, Stoy Dulgeroff, and Joe Blake who's also injured didn't suit up tonight.
Berk Nelson (Sioux City), who injured Benny, was feisty the first two periods. Andy Birrenkott gave him a nice punch during an after the whistle brawl and Berk Nelson was noticeably quieter after that!
In the first period Adrian Fure scored goal number one. Goal # two was taken by our new player Mike Hanson, whom we acquired in the Erik Day trade. Still in the first period Bobby Davis scored for his first goal of his first game back with the Buccaneers. Finally just seconds before the buzzer went off Adam Morris scored making it a 4-1 hockey game. In the second period Mike Hanson scored again, way to go Hanson! Then in the third period Adam Morris scored again with an assist to our new defenseman Lucas Kirsch (I'll add that he is doing good). The score ended 6-1, making the Bucs win loss record 11-13-2.
Good job guys, you didn't give up and you kept on hustling. Just don't stop playing like this! Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 6 - Sioux City 1
DATE: January 13, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Thunder Bay Flyers
I think there was only one line on the ice tonight. Every goal was made by this line. Coach has found his starting lineup. The line consists of our captain Mike Nooyan, Klage Kaebel, and Bobby Davis. This is only Bobby's second night but already he has 6 points and he's on the number one line.
In the first period Klage Kaebel scored first, with an assist from Mike Nooyen and Bobby Davis. Kevin Karlander scored the second goal with an assist to Mike Nooyen and Bobby Davis. After that Thunder Bay changed their goalie, too much pressure for them, and the Bucs showed no signs of quitting. Thunder Bay did get a goal in the first period and we went into the second period 2-1.
Second period started ominously, Thunder Bay got two goals and made the score 3-2 in their favor. The Bucs weren't even close to being dead yet. They scored again with Klage Kaebel giving him his second goal of the night with assists to Mike Nooyen and Bobby Davis. Regg Simon also worked hard tonight, though the scores don't show it. He had several shots on goal and at least one went of the post.
Going into the third period it was still tied 3-3, but the Bucs rolled over the Flyers with Kaebel's third goal of the night (assists to Andy Birrenkott and Mike Nooyen). Hats had littered the ice for Kaebel's hat trick and the fans were roaring their appreciation to the 5'9'' forward. Mike Nooyan scored last (assists to Bobby Davis and Klage Kaebel) making the final score 5-3.
Quotes from the fans:
"I think they're finally playing like a team, they're not competing against each other anymore."
Tiffany Rice
"It sucks because Adam Morris isn't here!"
Emily Rice
Adam Morris wasn't suited up for the game, he wasn't even in town. His Grandfather died last night and so he left for home. Hopefully he will be able to join us soon, he's been on a hot streak lately.
Some funny things happened tonight. Mike Hanson caught a flying puck in the air, when he went to throw it unto the ice to pass it along no puck came out of his hand. The puck and the other team went skating the other way while Hanson looked blankly at his glove trying to shake out the "disappearing" puck. There was a fight in the stands behind us, the police had to separate two men and drag one out of the arena. It was difficult, you weren't sure whether to watch the fight on the ice or in the stands. One of the Thunder Bay players was picking on Christian Laden, from somewhere on the side Mike Nooyan came flying in and pushed the Thunder Bay player into the boards, holding him there to keep him away from Laden. No one can say Mike Nooyan isn't loyal!
Ryan Bencurik is injured, but he and Klage Kaebel will be going to the USHL All-Stars. Will Bencurik be healed and ready to play by then? I hope so. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 5 - Thunder Bay 3
DATE: January 18, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Green Bay Gamblers
The first period was good, Nooyen scored 36 seconds into it, his home clan hooting and hollering. But, tied 1-1 going into the second period, something terrible happened. I had begun to think we might start winning more games. Within 13 minutes Green Bay scored 9 goals and the score was 1-9. Goal after goal Green Bay climbed up a high ladder. With only two shots on goal for us, one wondered if the Bucs could get any better, it seemed likely that it would get worse before it got better. Coach pulled Jayme Platt after the first two goals of the second period. After a couple more goals he pulled Scott Clemmensen in favor of the goalie just recently yanked.
Ryan Bencurik (helped Todd Kimm for the broadcast) commented during the second intermission on the second period "it looked like we laid down and died. . .in the locker room I told the guys, nobody dies on this team. If anybody lays down and dies, they can play for another team."
His pep talk must have had some effect. Klage Kaebel scored his 22 goal with an assist to Bobby Davis in the third period. Klage is second in the League in goals. Green Bay scored again though after Klage's goal, making it 10-2. Green Bay made our defensemen look silly with their 11th goal. Ryan Bencurik made our third goal by Bobby Davis (assist to Klage Kaebel) sound effortless, as though Bobby was all patience. Green Bay scored again making the final score 12-3, with a player parked in front of the net.
So how did the Bucs like Bobby Davis' return? Matt Bailey said they could tell the crowd was excited about Bobby's return and they fed off that excitement. He said the crowd cheered louder than before Bobby's return.
Our radio announcers are Todd Kimm and Rob Lettington, but Rob Lettington could not make if for this game, and as I've already said Ryan Bencurik filled in for him. Ryan did a good job, and he hopes to be back in the lineup next week, though he won't be ready for the All-Stars. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Green Bay 12
DATE: January 20, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Green Bay Gamblers
This was Des Moines chance to claim some respect from the 12-3 beating last Thursday night. But in the first period Green Bay took command with a power play goal 7 seconds into Nooyen's slashing penalty. Still Des Moines wasn't ready to quit yet. A little before the halfway mark in the first period Klage Kaebel scored (assists to Mike Nooyen and Bobby Davis). Bobby Davis picked up another goal later in the first period (assists to Nooyen and Kaebel). Reggie Simon got kicked out in the first period for fighting.
In the second period Terry Harris scored making the score 3-1, it seemed the Bucs were well on their way to victory. The crowd had really gotten into the game and it was good to hear them so excited. It has been a long time since a game has been as loud as it was last night.
In the third period Green Bay came back with 2 goals for a tie. Late in the period with only 4 and half minutes left Green Bay scored again. The crowd had gotten a lot quieter. Finally with a minute and 32 seconds left in the game Des Moines called a time out. The crowd got to their feet and cheered on as the goalie was pulled and an extra attacker was put onto the ice. Emotions were high, seconds before the game was over Mike Nooyen and Klage Kaebel, among others, got in a scuffle near the Green Bay net. Green Bay won the game 4-3, with unanswered goals in the third period.
I want to know why coach isn't playing Mike Inman, he's still on the roster, but he's nowhere to be seen! And why did Dan Guenther leave? I heard Joe Blake got injured, but where is he, he's still on the roster too. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Green Bay 4
DATE: January 27, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Dubuque Fighting Saints
I'm getting very tired of these "violation of team rules" episodes! First Bobby Davis, now half of the team, and the other half will go Tuesday! What's the deal? The suspended players were Kevin Karlander, Mike Nooyen, Stoy Dulgeroff, Terry Harris, Lucas Kirsch, and Yvon Hopps. We only had 13 skaters on the ice last night. With only 5 defenseman.
The game was two hours late, the bus broke down halfway to Dubuque at a little town called Independence. The engine was emitting black smoke. A new bus was gotten and they made their way to Dubuque.
Clemmensen was in goal for us tonight and he didn't get many shots on goal. In the first period he got 9 shots on goal, but after that the next two periods were quiet for him. At 3:34 seconds into the first period Bobby Davis scored with his 4th goal of the season (assist to Kaebel). So far every game Bobby's been in he's had at least two points per game. Kaebel scored their second goal (assist to Davis) at 5:30. Then Reggie Simon, working hard, got their third goal halfway through the period. The Bucs seemed to have complete control, but at 11:03 Dubuque scored the first goal. At 14:53 Matt Bailey came back with another goal (assist to Mike Hanson), 1 second after a power play had expired. We went into the first intermission 4-1.
In the second period Adrian Fure scored a minute into the second period. Late in the second period Dubuque scored again, it was 5-2 and the crowd was getting back into the game.
The Bucs didn't let Dubuque get another goal. Davis got his second goal of the night, a shorthanded goal, and an unassisted goal. The Dubuque goalie, Blackbird was concentrating on Matt Bailey, he went out of his net to clear the puck. Davis intercepted it at the blue line and popped it in, beating Blackbird. Dubuque's all-star defenseman gave Clemmensen a punch out of frustration late in the third period, and that gave us another power play. They were down by two men, Trainor scored in the last couple of minutes (assist to Hanson) giving us a 7-2 win. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 7 - Dubuque 2
DATE: January 30, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Rochester Mustangs
Tonight was unusual it seemed like it should be a weekend, not a Tuesday night. Plus the game was at 7:05, which threw you out of joint.
It was a boring game, utterly disappointing! They all skated slowly and clumsily, they seemed tired. Was the crowd tired too? I didn't hear one good Buc cheer! The first period there wasn't any penalties, and through most of the second it was penalty free. Friday is my birthday and I want a real hockey game, a better game than this one! We scored our first two goals in the 1st period. Our first goal went to Stoy Dulgeroff, who finally got a goal and didn't fumble it (assist to Peter Fregoe). The next goal was Mike Hanson's within a couple minutes of the first one (assists to Peter Fregoe and Ryan Bencurik), but Rochester came back with 3 goals. We were 2-3 at the end of the first period. It stayed that way through most of the second, too. Matt Bailey scored with about three minutes left, with an easy goal in the top left-hand corner of the net (assist to Lucas Kirsch). Mike Hanson got the first penalty of the game for slashing late in the second period.
In the third period Rochester scored two more times on sloppy goaltending. Rochester also got a couple penalties. All the penalties we got through the whole game could be counted on one hand.
So who didn't play tonight? Andy Birrenkott, Reggie Simon, Adrian Fure, Bill Trainor, and Kevin Karlander. All on suspensions for "violation of team rules."
What happened to the Kaebel, Davis, Nooyen line? They must not have been on the ice tonight! They sure didn't do much. Oh well, maybe Kaebel can straighten Bobby Davis out, especially after the incident at NMU. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Rochester 5
1995-96 Schedule | February Rants
