Bill Trainor

Assistant Captain

Number: 23
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Canton, MI
Last Team: Des Moines Buccaneers
Birthdate: 4-23-76

Player Biography

Bill is a veteran of the Bucs, returning for his third season. He was a member of the Bucs 1995 National Championship team. His record with the Bucs last season was 7 goals and 23 assists. His goal is to earn a college degree, and he enjoys playing golf and baseball in his free time.

Sarah: Can you tell me why you're the only one that can score in a shoot out?

Bill Trainor: Well, probably because I do the same shot every time. During practice when we practice on it, every time I go down the ice on the goalie I use the same shot and it works every time. It's been lucky for me. I asked Platt and Clemy about it they said it's the hardest shot to stop, so I've used it on goal tenders and it's worked, so I guess I won't stop it.

Sarah: Who or what influenced you to start playing hockey?

B. Trainor: Probably my mom got me started. I have two brothers, an older brother and a younger brother. She got my older brother started and I enjoyed watching him so she got me a pair of skates and I started skating when I was about three or four years old. I've never stopped and I just enjoy playing the game.

Sarah: What originally brought you to Des Moines and the Buccaneers?

Trainor: When Ferguson coached the team he saw me play in the state tournament back in Michigan and he took interest in me and wrote me and called me. He drafted me in the USHL draft, second round. I came out and have been here ever since.

Sarah: Do you like it?

Trainor: Yea, I love it.

Sarah: Before Des Moines where did you play?

Trainor: I played Midget hockey in Michigan, (for the) Compuware Ambassadors. I played Triple A my whole life in Michigan, which is the top amateur league.

Sarah: Do you have a favorite pro or college team?

Trainor: Well, being from Detroit, the Red Wings are my favorite pro team. I don't have a favorite college team.

Sarah: Any particular reason that the Red Wings are your favorite?

Trainor: Just growing up in Detroit, born and raised (there), I've just always been a Detroit fan. I had several of my favorite players growing up that played for the Wings. I'll always be a Wing fan no matter where I'm at.

Sarah: What, besides hockey, do you like to do?

Trainor: I'm an avid golfer, a big golf fan. I love golf and as soon as summer and spring come I throw the hockey bag in the basement and bring out the golf clubs and hit the course.

Sarah: Anything else?

Trainor: I played baseball in high school. I enjoy other sports, I mean I'll play basketball, football, but mainly golf now and hockey.

Sarah: What can't you imagine living without?

Trainor: You know people say money, and material things, like food. Obviously you can't live without those things, but I think my family's the most important thing to me. I wouldn't be here without them right now and without a good family I could be somewhere on the streets. I've been fortunate to have a great family. You can only thank them for where I am right now.

Sarah: What's your most embarrassing moment?

Trainor: That's a tough question, I wasn't prepped for this one. My teammates tried to tell me all the questions you would ask, but they didn't tell me this one. I'll come back to it.

Sarah: What are your goals for the future?

Trainor: My main goal is to play college hockey, Division I hockey and get my education. When you can get your education while playing the game you love I think it's a great bonus. That's my number one goal right now, just to get an education and get my life going.

Sarah: What would the fans be surprised to know about you.

Trainor: That I take golf so seriously. If I could play any other sport it would probably be golf. I'm pretty serious about playing golf. That might surprise some people, you grow up playing hockey all your life, maybe they don't think you like another sport or have time for another sport. I think people might be surprised that I spend a lot of time playing golf, maybe luckily I can pursue it sometime.

Sarah: Since this is your last year of eligibility in the league, what will you miss most in Des Moines?

Trainor: The fans, the crowd, and the Friday-Saturday night games. It's a great feeling that you can go out and know that whether you win or lose the fans are going to be there to support you. When you get up to the next level it's not going to be as rowdy as this crowd. Sometimes you're going to go into rinks and it's going to be dead. That's probably what I'll miss most is the fan support, how great this city is, and how much it supports our team. It's just fantastic.

Sarah: Can we go back to that question, your most embarrassing moment?

Trainor: The only thing that comes to mind right now is back in amateur hockey. I was trying to hit somebody along the boards, the guy was there one minute and the next minute he was gone. I went to hit him and totally missed him and went right through the door. I just fell through the door and there was a pretty big crowd on hand, and I just got up and, (Bill waves his hand as if to the crowd) yeah!