DATE: February 2, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: North Iowa Huskies
I wanted excitement, and I got it! The team played hard the first and second period, but they didn't score. Nothing seemed to happen for them. Late in the second period when Bobby Davis scored there was fire in the Bucs and the crowd.
The crowd was loud tonight and cheering well, but I don't think they cheered enough for Jayme Platt, who was in goal. Jayme made some good saves that got only a few claps from the crowd. If Clemmensen had made those same saves the crowd would have gone ballistic. The crowd did finally support Jayme five minutes into the third period.
North Iowa scored their first goal in the first period by #9 Josh Mizereck. The Huskies then went on to score two more goals in the second period, and we still weren't on the board. Finally Bobby scored before we went into the third period (assists to Ryan Bencurik and Mike Nooyan). In the third period Ryan Bencurik scored for our second goal of the night (assist to Adam Morris). The Bucs pulled Jayme, but couldn't tie the game. We lost 2-3.
Tripping must have been the favorite tonight, from Ryan Bencurik, to Matt Noga, to Mike Nooyan, to Andy Birrenkott. Whether the tripping was on purpose, whether it was faked, or whether it was just an accident.
Andy got in a scuffle, which could almost be classified as a fight. While both number nines from the two teams fought, with three minutes left in the third period, Adam Morris and Josh Mizereck. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 2 - North Iowa 3
DATE: February 3, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Rochester Mustangs
You probably don't want to read this again, but we lost. I'll try to be kind. Rochester was the better team. Since I'm not a cussing person, #$*@!!!
In the first period Rochester got a goal on a give away in our zone. Twelve minutes and twenty-eight seconds into the period Mike Hanson scored a power play goal from a great feed by Bill Trainor (assists to Bill Trainor and Matt Bailey). Rochester got another goal at 16:48 by their John Williams. The puck hit the post and on the rebound Williams pushed it in. Scott Clemmensen (who was in goal) saved it as it just barely went over the line, but the ref called it a goal. Rochester got their third goal at 19:36 deflected off Adrian Fure's stick and over Scott Clemmensen's shoulder. Clemmensen made 11 saves, Nelson made 8 for the end of the first period.
Going into the second period Rochester was ahead 3-1. Rochester soon scored another goal, making it 4-1. Peter Fregoe cut it to 2 (assist to Chris Antzoulatos and Stoy Dulgeroff), but Rochester scored their fifth goal at 16:42.
In the third period Terry Harris and Rochester's Lamm fought. Harris was the instigator pulling Lamm's jersey over his head and giving him several rights. It didn't slow Rochester down though, they got their sixth goal at 14:53 that put the game away. Rochester won 6-2 making the Bucs win loss record 13-18-2. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 2 - Rochester 6
DATE: February 6, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Waterloo Blackhawks
Wow, it was the best game of the season and I wasn't there to see it! At least they won breaking their three game losing streak. I see light at the end of the tunnel, and suddenly there's hope!
First period coach was making some line changes. Bobby Davis was no longer with Klage Kaebel and Mike Nooyen, but was put with Reggie Simon and Bill Trainor. Mike Hanson was taking Bobby's place in the Kaebel lineup. Peter Fregoe, Adam Morris, and Chris Antzoulatos were together. Chris Antzoulatos scored the first goal of the game (assist to Adam Morris) for his fourth of the season, beating Waterloo's goalie Trevor Hanger. Hanger hung on though for the rest of the period, keeping the Bucs away from any more goals. Jayme Platt, who was in goal, was having an equally good game, keeping Waterloo scoreless.
In the second period Andy Birrenkott and Jason Furness (who is as big as his name sounds) fought. Furness was the first to drop his gloves. Birrenkott got a penalty for roughing and a ten minute misconduct, while Furness got a double minor for roughing and a ten-minute misconduct. Then off the next face-off, Waterloo's Ryan Zoller beat Platt on a give-away for the tie. The excitement was mounting and you could hear the fans going wild. At one point Fure let fly a couple of shots and altogether the Bucs got 4 shots in a row. Hanger made save after save, saving the last of the string of shots three feet out of the net and down on the ice. Christian Laden pushed Andrew Tortorella and got chased by three Waterloo players. Laden ended up getting a four minute roughing penalty and a two minute slashing penalty. While this was going on, Andy Birrenkott was getting insulted by a Waterloo fan from over the glass. Andy turned around and started hitting the glass with his stick at the fan. Eventually the security guard made the fan sit down. This night was for the goalies with some of the biggest saves for both teams of the year. Adam Morris came in on a short-handed breakaway and was robbed by Trevor Hanger.
Waterloo got their second goal a minute into the third period by Jayme Adduono, they were ahead 2-1. Bobby Davis wasn't going to let them stay ahead for long, 26 seconds after their goal he deked around the defense and scored with a backhand goal for the tie. There were more fights in the third period. Ryan Sarazin decided he'd had enough of Chris Antzoulatos and was going to take him out, Chris had other ideas because he won the fight. Christian Laden and Waterloo's Jimmy Mroz fought, too. While Christian Laden got a game ejection, it didn't seem that Mroz did. The Bucs were going into over time.
It was the Bucs third over time of the season and they were 0-1-2, the only tie being against Waterloo at the Buccaneer home opener. So far the Bucs had 30 shots on goal while Waterloo had 23. 4:34 seconds into over time and Waterloo had only four players out on the ice, they forgot to replace a player who was trying to draw a penalty and forgot his stick and gloves on the ice. Bobby Davis rushed over the blue line dancing around the defense and scored the game winning goal breaking their three game losing streak. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Waterloo 2 (overtime)
DATE: February 9, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Omaha Lancers
Did I really think we could win two games in a row? Na, that wasn't me. You win one you lose one, what's the difference? Really, the Bucs played well, better than some games we've seen. Omaha is just a better team, as much as I hate to admit it. Well Bobby Davis didn't get the hat-trick as requested by my father. At the beginning of the game, as normal, dad pounded on the glass as Bobby whizzed by, waving his hat at Bobby and pointing at it, mouthing the word "hat-trick." Bobby seemed to understand, evidently not thoroughly enough.
In the first period the Bucs played good hockey. Hanson got his 14th goal of the season (assists to Matt Bailey and Ryan Bencurik) a little over five minutes into the game. Omaha almost tied it, but for some reason the ref didn't think that swatting the puck in like a baseball counted. Jayme Platt saved 15 shots, while Scot Stirling saved 10.
About five minutes into the second period Omaha's Derek Toninato got a goal after Jayme Platt made the initial save. Omaha scored again in a little over two minutes with K.J. Voorhees. Brent Voorhees got in a scuffle with Chris Antzoulatos, words were thrown and B. Voorhees decked Antzoulatos to the ice. The result? Chris Antzoulatos got a penalty for roughing? I must have got that wrong, it must be a 2 minute penalty for nothing! Trainor has decided not to be so soft, he dealt out a healthy check a few feet away from us. During the second period Platt decided he needed a little break from the entourage of goals, he used his favorite method, adjusting his goalie pads. Meanwhile Christian Laden was out for most of the period with a few penalties and a misconduct. With only three minutes left Omaha scored yet again, the score was 3-1 in Omaha's favor. Just a minute afterwards Omaha scored their final goal of the period on a rush by Nick Lent. Stirling made a bare 7 saves, Platt made 12.
At 13:29 in the third period Terry Harris and Omaha's Jeff Bernard fought, their gloves weren't glued on. I feel that Harris won that fight, so why was the whole Lancer bench celebrating? Omaha got their fifth goal at the ten minute mark, only after a lengthy discussion, in which our coach told the ref exactly how he felt. I guess he felt like he was being choked, because he was demonstrating with his tie. Omaha got the goal and bench penalty for "illegal substitution." Whatever that means. This interference during the game must have gotten the Bucs psyched, because Klage Kaebel broke his cold streak. Kaebel beat the goalie on a sweet goal a minute after Omaha's fifth goal (assists to Bobby Davis and Andy Birrenkott). At 7:72 Adrian Fure scored his seventh goal of the season (assists to Bobby Davis and Adam Morris). Omaha wouldn't stop though, they got their sixth goal with only three minutes left to tie the game. The Bucs couldn't tie it, but at least they could fight anything that crossed their paths. There sure was a lot of noise coming from the penalty box to our right! How many Bucs did we have in there, and where they all really that mad? Ryan Bencurik got kicked out for fighting at the end, Ryan who was really that mad! Poor Bencurik, he was having a very bad day. After Bencurik got off the ice, he discussed his feelings with the player he fought in the hallway, a nice little conversation, very peaceful! Luckily the guards were standing in between them. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 3 - Omaha 6
DATE: February 10, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Rochester Mustangs
The Bucs aren't playing to their best ability, so why should I write to my best ability? I don't really feel like writing this anyway, so here goes. Coach Owens went with more line changes this time, Terry Harris, Matt Bailey, and Mike Hanson were the starting line-up. Players were juggled around and no longer played on the same lines they used to. They needed more offensive power and coach was trying to get it.
In the first period Rochester's Kerry Hafele scored a rebound goal on a power play at 10:30. With two and half minutes left to Clemmensen tried to cover up after the initial save, but the puck was kicked loose and Rochester slammed it in for another power play goal. Coach made a goalie change at that point. There were ten shots on goal for each team, Jayme Platt saving three after the goalie change.
The second period didn't go so well either, Rochester's Bob Owen scored at 2:52 as Dulgeroff screened Platt. 12:27 to go and Jayme made a save, but the puck trickled behind him for Rochester's fourth goal. With six minutes left to go the Bucs started adding pressure, getting a lot of chances most of which went wide. Rochester got ten shots on goal while Jayme Platt made six.
In the third period Harris had the goalie beat, but the puck hit the post. The Bucs seemed to play better for the third period, but it wasn't enough, the goalie was hot. Have all the goalies we've played against this year really been so stellar? It was the first shut-out of the season against the Bucs, dropping them to 14-20-2 and to 8th place in the USHL. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 0 - Rochester 4
DATE: February 11, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Fargo-Moorhead Bears
Another good road game and I missed it!! I want to see the Bucs win! The Bucs are definitely better on road games than at home, now why would that be? Are we, as fans, too hard on them, can't they handle it? The Bucs traveled to Fargo for the third game of the weekend. Mike Hanson had family members watching in the crowd, Mike is from Minot, ND. So far the Bucs have had 11 one goal losses, I don't know about you, but that seems like too many to me!
During the first period one of the Fargo players had a penalty, but with 51 seconds left on his penalty he came streaking out. Imagine that, watching a player come out while his penalty is still ticking away on the clock! How could he have mistaken that one? He almost touched the puck, but realized what happened and sat there confused. Batty, quite, batty! Fargo got a goal that was waved off, for too many players in the crease. The crowd wasn't happy about that one! Throughout the first period it would seem that Fargo was more physical, but the Bucs were doing a good job on killing off the penalties. In the first period the Bucs had four penalties, one which carried over into the second period. Fargo's L.J. Scarpace saved ten shots, as did Jayme Platt who was did a good job in goal. There was still no score on the board.
The second period started and the Bucs were getting more physical, giving out more hits. It was a solidly played defensive game, and the Bucs were better on the give-aways. Andy Birrenkott decided that he wanted a piece of Toby Sceneider, but Toby didn't want to fight and skated away. Finally Bobby Davis scored on a power play at 12:30 (assist to Mike Nooyan and Jason Ialongo). Fargo's Toby Schneider put the puck in the net on a breakaway, but he got it after the breakaway so it was disallowed. Again the Fargo crowd booed. The Bucs outshot Fargo in the second period, the score was 1-0, our favor of course!
In the third period Fargo caught Jayme unprepared, tying the game 1-1. Mike Hanson soon took the lead again (assist to Fregoe), must be nice to get a goal while your family is watching! At 5:03 Reggie Simon worked hard to bring the puck down to center it to Bobby Davis, Bobby waited for Scarpace to go down and popped it in. We had a two-goal lead. Then at 10:01 Terry Harris scored while Scarpace was out of the net. Scarpace, who didn't see the ref signaling an icing call, went back and touched the puck, with two of the Bucs sitting there waiting for him. We had the biggest lead we've had in a long time. Would you believe that Chris Antzoulatos backed down from a fight? Yes it's true he did, the other player wanted to go, but Antzoulatos refused and backed away. Antzoulatos got a few pats from his teammates for not going. Maybe, Chris didn't want to get suspended for the next two games! The Bucs won improving their record to 15-20-2, 7-10-1 at home and 8-10-1 away. Written by Sarah Bendy.
Des Moines 4 - Fargo Moorhead 1
DATE: February 16, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Fargo-Moorhead Bears
"Orange whip? Who wants an orange whip?" And as my dad said those fateful words I wondered if we would be getting the top draft pick for next year. My dad said those words (from the movie "Blues Brothers," spoken by John Candy) every home game last season (remember the triple crown champs!), alas but two or three times is all that it has been uttered this season.
Halfway through the first period and there still wasn't a goal, but 7:61 into the period Adam Morris was tired of being pushed around. After the whistle blew and the Fargo player was still pushing Adam, he started pushing back. Two men for each team got two minute penalties, all but the Fargo player who was pushing Morris, who got 4 min. This was followed by some discussion by both teams, especially on the Fargo side. The crowd responded with their "Whiner, whiner, whiner!" chant. Ryan Bencurik finally scored 8:90 into the first period (assists to Bobby Davis and Klage Kaebel). Just two minutes later and Fargo's Jared Gustafson got a goal to tie it. With only ten seconds left on the clock Fure was down on the ice, he was taken off the ice with a gash above his right eye. I don't know what happened to cause this gash, because I could only see Reggie Simon pushing Fargo's Ian Petersen after Ian checked him tremendously hard into the boards. A very nice brick wall.
The clock said 12:36 and the scoreboard said 2-1, but it wasn't in our favor, it was in Fargo's favor. They had just scored again with their Jesse Rooney. It stayed that way through the whole second period. Not much was happening so I devoted myself to the study of Bobby Davis and how he skates. Ryan Bencurik left the ice limping in the last minute of the second period, I wonder if his previous injury was bothering him?
One minute and 94 seconds into the third period in what was destined to be a feisty one, Jeff Potter and Chris Antzoulatos were taken off for coincidental minors. Was Antzoulatos really pushing back? I don't think so! This is a free country, Chris can jaw! Well at least Potter got more minutes than Antzoulatos did! I think Bobby Davis must have seen my favorite commercial. You know, the Sergie Federov commercial where Sergei is skating by about 20 players and then scores on 5 goalies before getting hit by a zamboni driven by a goalie? Well anyway, Federov puts on some really fancy moves against many players, Bobby was putting on these same moves against. . . well, not so many players. At 15:38 Klage Kaebel scored on a one-timer (assists to Kevin Karlander and Ryan Bencurik). At the blue-line, right next to the Fargo bench, Andy Birrenkott was being shoved by Fargo's Brent Kuehne, and shoved, and pushed. The puck came sliding toward Andy, but he ignored it, turned around and decked Kuehne. After a few punches Kuehne went down to the ice, Andy had won that fight. As Andy left the ice he was patted on the back by an enthusiastic Terry Harris, you could tell Harris was getting excited, he'd be the next to go. Sure enough just under two minutes and Terry Harris and Tim O'Connell did a little dancing, only problem was they fell to the ground. Boy, did Terry let O'Connell have it then! Now Terry had no helmet, no gloves, and he was sure throwing the punches, but he only got a penalty, he didn't get thrown out of the game. Hmmm... I would have called it fighting, but there was no game ejection! With only 3 seconds left the players just drifted on the ice as though they were frozen to the ice, waiting for the time to run out.
We were tied 2-2 and we were going to over-time. With 4:40 left to go in over-time Adam Morris and Tim O'Connell fought, or something like that. All I could see was a linesman practically sitting on Adam Morris trying to keep him down. It took two linesmen to try and keep Morris in check. Morris was breathing fire as he was drug over to the penalty box by the linesmen Doty (and that's not dot-y it's doe-ty!). Morris refused to go in and was still trying to get at the other player, with the linesmen holding onto the back of his jersey Doty tried pushing him into the box. Morris wanted O'Connell and wouldn't go in. The assistant captain, Reggie Simon, came rushing in to help put Morris straight. Tim O'Connell, got a game ejection while Morris got a 10 minute misconduct. I should think so! With 44 seconds left we thought we'd won it, the Bucs got a goal and for a minute the fans celebrated the first home game win of a long time. The Bucs celebrated like it was a Stanley Cup win, with Jayme Platt rushing down to the other end to be with the Bucs pouring out of the bench. Some commotion started going on though, and soon the announcer blared out over the arena speaker, "Goal, disallowed." The fans cried in protest and the Bucs went back to the bench. The goal was disallowed because a hand knocked it in. The Bucs got ready for another face-off. Four seconds left and Fargo one-timed it into a little space between Jayme Platt and the post. Fargo had won the game 3-2. Well, at least we get a bonus point! Written by Sarah Bendy
Des Moines 2 - Fargo Moorhead 3
DATE: February 17, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Dubuque Fighting Saints
For the second night in a row Ryan Bencurik wasn't the last one to leave the ice after practice. He's always been the last one to leave, waiting for the other players to go off first. He's still one of the last, but not the last. "Who's that number 27?" My mom asked me. "Did we get a new player, I don't recognize him." "Oh," I told my mom "that's just Stoy Dulgeroff cleaned up, quite an improvement, huh?"
Eight minutes into the first period Matt Bailey got the Bucs first goal (assists Andy Birrenkott and Adam Morris), it would prove to be a good night for Bailey. Not even a minute later and Terry Harris got a goal (assists to Matt Bailey and Adam Morris) after working hard around the net. At 10:30 the Bucs got a bench minor and a penalty on Mike Nooyen. We had only three skaters on the ice, to their five. Scott Clemmensen came up big on several saves, but with only 7 seconds left on the penalties Clemmensen's water bottle bounced up above the net. Dubuque's John Dwyer had scored the power play goal. Clemmensen had made 8 saves, Blackburn had made 4.
In the second period Dubuque got two more goals, the second goal with two players rushing in, John Sadowski netting it. Then one of the best fights I think I've seen so far happened. Dad had predicted earlier that Chris Antzoulatos would fight tonight, Dad was right. Chris Antzoulatos and Jay Varady just threw down their gloves and went. Swing, spin, swing. They were given plenty of space and the fight lasted longer than most. Finally the players looked to tired to keep it up and down they fell to the ice. Antzoulatos had managed to get off Varady's jersey by then. About a minute after the fight and 6:14 into the period Mike Hanson scored (assists to Matt Bailey and Bill Trainor). Yvon Hopps and Dave Mugavero decided to fight too, I don't blame Hopps one bit for wanting to take out that Mugavero, he was nasty looking! Not may punches were thrown before the linesmen separated them. While the normal "discussion" that is held after fights was going on, Mark Hall the Music man played the ESPN Sports center song.
One minute and 2 seconds into the third period Matt Bailey scored his second goal of the night (assists to Ryan Bencurik and Andy Birrenkott). It looked like Bailey wanted a hat trick. About seven minutes later Matt Bailey did get that hat-trick, scoring at 11:51 (assists to Bill Trainor and Mike Hanson). Hats and yellow frisbees (they were thrown into the crowd during second intermission by a fox, yes I said fox) lay on the ice. None of the players picked up the hats and kept them this time. Maybe the fans are getting smart enough not to throw out nice hats! With 3:19 left to go a ruckus broke out down to the right of Clemmensen. Involved were several Dubuque players, Bill Trainor, Matt Bailey, and Adrian Fure. Only Fure got put in the penalty box for roughing. Trainor did some shoving and Bailey did some swatting. The Bucs looked like they were going to win, but at the end with only seconds left on the clock and the Dubuque net empty it was a free for all. Clemmensen made good save after good save amongst the mess. The Bucs won their first home game in a long, long time, winning it 5-3. Written by Sarah Bendy
Des Moines 5 - Dubuque 3
DATE: February 23, 1996 (away game)
OPPONENT: Sioux City Musketeers
I have a reason for my "rant" not being up within the time allotted. Really I do, seriously! I went up to Sioux City to give you a better "rant" from the real action and not the radio broadcast (also to hopefully see the Bucs win). It was my family's first official away game, the only other away game being a pre-season game last year at Omaha (that was before I was a Buc fan and when I was an Omaha fan). Yes, I was a Lancer fan, I'm originally from Omaha, what can I say? I've been reformed though, I'm now a Buc fan through and through and strongly dislike those Lancers!
People are always saying the ice is small in Sioux City, and were they right. Not only is the ice small but so were the players benches. It was extremely funny to watch the Bucs trying to squish themselves in and out of that bench. My first thought when we sat in our seats was "Where are the penalty boxes?" I didn't see any. After practice and the players had left the ice, the lights dimmed. Before the players came out for the first period the lights dimmed even more. Our flag was lowered above the stage that was at the North end of the ice. A spotlight was directed to where the Bucs would come out, and as they came out and we clapped everyone else booed. Than the Musketeers came out with music blaring and they raced around their side of the ice. The lights stayed dimmed and the national anthem was played on the organs above us while the mirrored ball threw millions of diamonds all around us. It was quite dramatic and exciting, but even so the arena itself was almost oppressive. It's hard to explain because the seats were comfortable and the view was all right, but it was still oppressive.
So how did the team look you say? Not good, I mean they looked all right, but there wasn't any fire in them. Anyway, in the first period, about eight minutes into the game Sioux City scored. I couldn't hear who the announcer said it was, he was too quiet! Twelve minutes into the game and I found out where the penalty boxes were. They were to the North of the players benches. In the hallway they have benches for the players to sit on. Sioux City got another goal in the first period and the crowd was getting noisy and cocky. There were ten shots on goal for the Bucs, with eleven shots on goal for Sioux City. I think Erik Day was trying to prove something!
At 10:57 in the second period Jayme went to make a stick save and the puck went into the top left hand corner of the net, Sioux City was up 3-0. Then again at 4:57 Sioux City scored, I think the Bucs were trying to give Erik a shut-out. At this point Coach Owens made a goalie change. Near the end of the second period Ryan Bencurik started pelting a Sioux City guy, with his helmet still on Bencurik just let that guy have it. Suddenly to the right of Bencurik, Chris Antzoulatos started to go. I have to say that for the two fights that were going on at the same time, Antzoulatos had the better fight. At this point I only wanted one goal, so I could show those snooty "Muske" fans how loyal I was.
I got my chance at 9:53 with Peter Fregoe's goal (assist to Adrian Fure), I didn't care if I jumped up and clapped my hands in the air! I got my chance about a minute later, with a blast from the point by Jason Ialongo (assists to Reggie Simon and Stoy Dulgeroff). That was to be the end of my cheering, Sioux City scored their fifth goal after the Bucs two goals. It was getting sickening, the fans were getting sickening. Okay, so maybe our Des Moines fans can be the same way, but when the Sioux City crowd clapped because Bill Trainor was down on the ice hurt and not moving I got sick. We don't clap when someone from the other team is down on the ice dying, do we? Then when one of the Musketeer fans started yelling at Jayme Platt, through a crack in the glass, and then poking at him too, I started to get mad! Did the Sioux City fan's really hate Mike Hanson that much?! Come on, Mike Hanson started the season out with the Musketeers, they didn't need to yell at him so much! It was quite a different experience being in a crowd of "Muske" fans that hated the very guts of your team. I guess I should know the feeling, I used to go to Buc games and cheer for the Lancers! Think if that isn't hard to do, what with the crowd cheering "Omaha sucks, Omaha sucks!" It was all I could do to stay in my seat! Written by Sarah Bendy
Des Moines 2 - Sioux City 5
DATE: February 24, 1996 (home game)
OPPONENT: Rochester Mustangs
If I complained that the Bucs didn't have any fire in them Friday night I couldn't complain about them Saturday night. They looked ready to take on a team that they had yet to beat.
About two minutes into the first period Klage Kaebel broke his scoreless slump with a goal (assists to Andy Birrenkott and Lucas Kirsch). Three and half minutes later Rochester's Cory Miller streaked down to Scott Clemmensen, went to the left of the net and put it in through an open spot, unhindered. Seven minutes passed before Bill Trainor got a goal on a slap shot (assists to Jason Ialongo and Adrian Fure). After this Rochester pulled their goalie Karasek in favor of Nelson. With just a second or two left the Bucs pulled Clemmensen to add a sixth man to the face-off that was to the right of Rochester's goalie. Rochester had 9 shots on goal and the Bucs had 12 at the end of the first period.
The second period did not go as well. Rochester got two more goals making it 3-2 in their favor. The first goal coming ten minutes into the period, the second coming five minutes after the first goal. But about a minute later Klage Kaebel got a goal from just behind the post (assists to Mike Nooyen and Bobby Davis). 18:13 into the period Kaebel scored again getting his third hat trick of the season (assist to Lucas Kirsch). Lucas Kirsch came skating in made the shot, which Nelson saved but the puck trickled out and Kaebel scored from the same position as his last goal. With 5.1 seconds left Adam Morris shot toward the net, the puck trickled between the goalies legs. Rochester's number 19 banged at the goal judge, as if it was all his fault. There were 11 shots on goal for the Bucs, and 9 for Rochester in the second period.
There were no more goals in the third period, as a matter of fact the Bucs had only 8 shots on goal for the whole third period. Crazy Larry was back, and the crowd was really responding to him. It seems the crowd only responds to his cheers. I heard the loudest cheering last night of the whole season. At one point it was the East side of the arena against the West side. Crazy Larry was leading the West side while another enthusiastic (drunk) fan lead the East side. The West side would all stand up and scream "B-U-C-S. Bucs, Bucs, bucs!" Than it was the East side's turn (I was on the East side) "B-U-C-S. Bucs, bucs, bucs!" Needless to say I think the East side won! Mike Nooyen was busying making faces at Rochester's Bautch for a cross-checking penalty with about four minutes left to go in the third. Bautch was in the penalty box and Nooyen was standing a ways off laughing and blowing kisses at Bautch. How humiliating for Nooyen when he had to go to the penalty box after getting caught for the retaliation of the cross check from Bautch! Nooyen didn't have a smile anymore, he was to busy keeping his face down and away from sight. The Bucs are now 17-22-2 and are tied with Waterloo for seventh place. Written by Sarah Bendy
Des Moines 5 - Rochester 3
