Staff Interviews
Krueger, Nick (Assistant Coach)
Lettington, Rob
Other Interviews
Des Moines Buccaneers
Player interviews are located with the players biography and are available from the Roster.
 National Tourney Notebook -- May 3, 1999
It's not easy for visiting goalies to create a friendly relationship with the home crowd, but Billings' Marc Ranfranz has done that. Also, find out why some national tournament games have had more tempo than others.
Clark Cup Finals prediction
For the third time in the past five seasons, Des Moines and Omaha will meet in the Clark Cup Finals. Each team has won one of the previous matchups, but who will skate away with the cup this year?
Second round predictions
Check out how the teams match up for the second round of the Clark Cup playoffs.
First round predictions
With the first round shortened to a best-of-five this year, getting off to a good start is more important than ever. Check out how the teams match up for the first round of the Clark Cup playoffs.
Best of the USHL arenas
Want to know which arena has the best pre-game introductions? Which arena has the best organ music? Or maybe which arena has the best popcorn? The answers to all of these questions, and more, are in the story.
Fewer games means less excitement
The USHL's plan to go to a best of five format for the first two rounds of the playoffs means fans will have less opportunity to watch the most exciting hockey of the season |
Grimm's Tales Continued...
The End of an Era
On Feb. 13, Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens will host an NHL game for the last time. And when the arena's primary tenant, the Toronto Maple Leafs, move to the Air Canada Centre a few days later, it will mark the end of an era in the NHL.
Bronze as good as gold for Slovakia
Experts picked Slovakia to finish as low as ninth in the ten-team World Junior Hockey Championships. The Slovakians didn't listen, however, capturing the bronze medal and the hearts of Winnipeg, Manitoba in the process.
At midway point, Bucs still the team to beat
Heading into the season, Des Moines seemed to be the team to beat in the USHL, and nothing's changed at the midway point. Also, the league's best player so far, the team to watch in the second half, and other topics are covered.
Go west... and north
The growth of amateur hockey in the United States shows the USHL could easily handle two additional teams. The logical choices are as different as night and day - Kearney, Nebraska and Duluth, Minnesota.
Former Buccaneer shines in North Star State
In the land of 10,000 frozen ponds, former Buccaneer Reggie Berg has taken a key role on Minnesota's top drawing college hockey team.
Developing players and rivalries
Although USA Hockey's National Team Development Program has produced some strong players during it's young existence, some USHL observers are not happy with what they perceive as inconsistencies and oddities surrounding the program's participation in the USHL.
Des Moines North
The North Iowa Huskies got off to a strong start in the 1998-99 season. At the heart of their success was several players with ties to the Buccaneers.
Bucs look to repeat as Anderson Cup champs
Although the majority of the USHL seems to be evenly matched, the widest gap will come in the Central Division, where the Des Moines Buccaneers have the talent to make it a one-team race.
Defending Clark Cup champs favored in West
The Omaha Lancers lack the size of last year's Clark Cup champion squad, but they will more than make up for it in speed. However, don't count out Lincoln or Sioux City, two teams that threaten to make the West Division interesting.
Under 18 favored in "geographic nightmare"
The East Division might be a geographic nightmare, stretching from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin and Waterloo, Iowa, but for the USA Under 18 team, it will be smooth sailing. |
