1995 -1996 Season Conclusion
The 95-96 season started and we knew it would, and never could, be the same as last year. 1994-95 was a year to be remembered and pondered, but it couldn't happen again. That happens once in a blue moon. Many people failed to realize this though, and they gave the new Bucs a hard time. Last year the paper and news channels all supported the Bucs. This year we were lucky if the Bucs were even mentioned in passing by any of these news sources.
Though we were upset by the media coverage, that was okay. Though many new fans dropped away, that was okay. The loyal, die-hard fans stuck with them. And I might add, never left them.
When I think of this season I start back at training camp, when we found out Fergie was leaving us. I found it out from a photographer taking my picture, and I almost fainted while posing. Sure enough, Bob Fergueson would be leaving as soon as he'd found a new coach and gotten the team together. At the training camp there were many new faces, faces that have since become familiar and faces we'll never see again. When you only have six returning players you need to build a whole new team. We were impressed at the camp by fast little players like Brian Gionta, goalies who seemed to stop everything like Terry Ross, even the way the whole team seemed to respond to Ricky Smith. Throughout the training camp we heard cries from the crowd (which was probably less than a thousand) of "Fergie, Fergie, Fergie" or "Fergie, don't go. Fergie, don't go!" Fergie talked to the crowd one last time at the end of the camp, and with a microphone in his hand he thanked everyone for everything.
So the pre-season started with a new coach, Scott Owens, and a new atmosphere. And we saw the players that had made the team, and didn't see the players who hadn't made the team (Brian Gionta and Terry Ross among others). We didn't know what to expect with this new season. On the roster we failed to see one of the returning Bucs, Ryan Bencurik, he'd gotten a scholarship to New Hampshire. The first pre-season game we played our rival Omaha, and we beat them. We memorized the names on the roster, noting we had a California player and three players from our own Urbandale, Iowa. We fell in love with some of the players, the way Brad Hamel looked down at the fiery Andrew Tortorella and just laughed at his antics, Joe Blake and his hard slap shot, Adam Morris and his feistiness. We saw sides of the old players we'd never seen before. Reggie Simon actually threw more than one punch, Andy Birrenkott took on the role of enforcer, Erik Day became the number one goalie and didn't do as well as he'd done as back-up. We looked for a similarity in the new players with the old players, we could see some of the speed in Pete Fregoe that was in Brad Frattaroli. We looked for a link to Ricky Smith with Reggie Berg, but the only thing close there was the first names. You know Rick-y, Regg-ie (hmm, maybe not)? We realized that these were new players, a completely different team, and they couldn't do what last years team did.
The regular season started and we had a new assistant coach, Jay Boxer, which we'd never had before. The opening game was all glitter and smoke, literally smoke. They dimmed the lights in the auditorium and filled the entrance from the locker room with fog. A red light shone through the fog and a deep voice over the loud speaker thrilled us with the tale of last year's team. The voice ushered in the new Buccaneers, it was the moment we'd been waiting for. With smiles on their faces the Bucs came in. Some experiencing the crowd for the first time, some who knew it well.
We were surprised when the Bucs dropped their home opener, but not disappointed. It was the beginning of the hockey season, who wouldn't be excited when we'd gone all through the hot summer without the coolness and smell of the ice? Besides, we told ourselves, it was a new team, a new coach. Give them time.
But halfway through the season, we were still saying that, give them time. Players were traded and players just left. One night you watched them play, the next night they were gone, without a word. Some stayed for four months, some stayed for four weeks. Near the beginning of the season we got a forward named Klage Kaebel, who turned out to be our leading scorer and a source of much offense. In January we got Bobby Davis back from last year, Ricky Smith just packed up and left to go home. There was Bobby wearing the number 11 and skating as fast as he always did. Ryan Bencurik came back to play in November, then injured his knee after Christmas. He was expected to be out the rest of the season, but was only out for about two months. Joe Blake's shoulder took a beating and bothered him the whole season, he eventually stopped playing and went back up to Minneapolis to have it looked at. Joe Blake finally came back right before the play-offs, only to get injured again the game before they were eliminated. Before the new year players were getting suspended and players never came back from Christmas vacation.
The Bucs were losing their games, and losing them by one point. We acquired players that were supposed to give us the needed offensive punch that was causing the loss problem. Then the night after a Musketeer game coach traded Erik Day for Sioux City forward Mike Hanson. The next day Mike Hanson played for the Bucs and Erik Day was already unpacking up in Sioux City.
It was getting frustrating, the Bucs had a good record for road games, but at home the pressure seemed to be to much for them to handle. The crowd got on them, constantly yelling "shoot, just shoot it!" So they played much better when they left Des Moines.
As we got closer to the play-offs came a marked change, the Bucs were improving. Settling back into the game and letting the other team run around with their heads cut off. We finally got to see some of the best hockey of the season... at the end of the season. They were beginning to play like a team. The Bucs were down near the basement - could they make it to the play-offs?
Yes they could, and yes they did. They were seventh place in the USHL, playing against their rival Omaha which was second place. Before going into the play-offs the Bucs played the Lancers and beat them once in the regular season. Going into the play-offs the Bucs were the hottest team in the USHL, losing only two of their last eight games. The pressure was on, but the heat was off, because as the Bucs started the first round series with Omaha they downed the Lancers in their barn. The second game of that series was taken by Omaha with a 10-2 score. The Bucs took the next two games, Jayme Platt posting his first shut-out with the team. The Bucs lead the series 3-1, they only had to win the next game. Omaha didn't lay down and die though, they took one more victory before the Bucs won the series on Saturday March 23. Andy Birrenkott got the game winning goal for that series.
One week later the Bucs were getting ready to play against the Rochester Mustangs and the fans were settling back for another month of hockey. It wasn't the same series as Omaha, Rochester took the first three games. Rochester wasn't necessarily playing better and the Bucs weren't necessarily playing bad. The first game of the second round series the Bucs had the Mustangs under control, but they let down in the last period. The Bucs bounced back and won one game in that series, a home game on April 6th. That would be the last time they played in front of the home arena. The next Monday the Bucs faced Rochester, either the Bucs would win forcing a game six (and hopefully a game seven) or the Mustangs would win and end the season for Des Moines. Rochester shut-out the Bucs.
And with that, the season had come to a close. I have a few more words to say before I break for the summer. First, I want to thank the fans for sticking with the Bucs and never giving up on them, we were as loud as we've ever been. Second, I want to thank the Bucs for coming to Des Moines and playing in this hockey forsaken country. Third, I want to thank the rant fans, whether you are a Buccaneer fan our just a hockey fan (or perhaps a Sarah fan?), your encouragement has been wonderful! So with all that said, farewell folks! Until hockey camp next season that is... Written by Sarah Bendy
Clark Cup - Round 2 Rant | 1995-96 Schedule
