12/1/98

Steve: Mark, we are not going to ask the standard questions because this will be your third interview, and people can read prior interviews if they want to. I would like to talk about last year’s national championship team. Could you tell me a little bit about the playoffs that led up to the final game in Billings? Who was it you swept?

Mark: We swept Green Bay four games to nothing, then we swept Lincoln, and then we got swept by Omaha. So it went by real quick.

Steve: Tell me about those sweeps. I mean, that is a very rare thing that you do that to a hockey team. Was the team overconfident when they came into Omaha, do you think?

Mark: Well, we went through Green Bay real fast and gained confidence there. Then we went through Lincoln real fast. You don’t want to let up and lose games. So I think, I don’t want to make excuses, but we had a ten day layoff before we played Omaha - and they were still playing. Maybe that gave them a little advantage.

Steve: So then you were off to the national championship. Was it different playing other teams you had never seen before, like Billings? What was that like?

Mark: It was fun. It was fun to play new teams. I had never seen a team from the Frontier League or I had never seen a team from the North American League play, so it was a good experience and I had a lot of fun. It was good to see some new teams. We’ve played all the same teams for three years in a row.

Steve: Do they play different than the USHL teams?

Mark: The difference between us and the Frontier League would be that our league is a lot faster. Their top two lines were pretty good and then it kind of dropped off. The North American League teams were pretty good. They were pretty physical teams, so they were pretty competitive.

Steve: Tell me about playing CompuWare.

Mark: They were good. They had a really young team. We beat them 2-1 in overtime. I guess they are supposed to be really good this year too.

Steve: Are they?

Mark: They will probably be back there again.

Steve: Then we went into the championship game with Omaha. I remember talking to a lot of the fans. They said, "Oh, we don’t want to play Omaha. We are tired of playing Omaha." But what about you guys? Did you want to play Omaha?

Mark: Yeah, of course. They swept us so we had something to prove to them. You never want to end the season losing five games in a row to Omaha, that is for sure.

Steve: So how did it go on that championship night? What do you remember about it? What are some of your memories?

Mark: Well, I just remember thinking about playing in a national championship game. I couldn’t really believe that at first. It was a great experience and it was really fun. I am glad that we won the game, that is for sure. It was a real close game. It was 0-0 in the third and then it was 2-0 with 10 minutes left, and then they scored. We got a little nervous but we hung on to win. That was the greatest feeling I’ve had in hockey in my life.

Steve: I was down on the ice when you guys were celebrating. What was going through your mind?

Mark: It felt great cause we knew we were going to win. Everyone came here in August and it was a long season and that pays off. All your hard work put into a national championship is worth your time.

Steve: What was the experience like going to Billings? Did they treat you well?

Mark: Yeah, they helped out everyone from what I heard and what I saw. They were sharpening your skates, asking if you needed anything, if everything was all right. It was great.

Steve: We know this year the Bucs are doing really great, we have only lost two games. Tell me about this team compared to last year’s national championship team. Talent wise are they the same, do you think?

Mark: I think this year we have got more offensive power. We have been scoring a lot of goals - around six to seven, eight a game. Last year we had a young team to start out with, and I think five guys that returned. This year we have a lot of returners that won a national championship, plus a lot of good players from the North American League and Smrek and Sejna are here. We have some good rookies, so we have a good bond this year.

Steve: Is there a feeling that you’re going to do it again?

Mark: Yeah, I think we will. I am hoping for it.

Steve: It seems like almost a run away between Green Bay, USA, Omaha, and Des Moines. When you look at the standings at this point in the season, there is only one other team that is above .500. Does that make it harder to play those teams when you know they’re so far out of the running?

Mark: The thing that makes it more fun to play Green Bay, Omaha, and USA is they’re really good teams so it’s more competitive. It brings out the best in the team. If we were playing the low and out teams all the time and not playing any good teams, then we won’t get much better.

Steve: Now we’re coming up with a game with USA this Friday. It is a key game. How do you guys look going into it? Are there any injuries or are you looking at a full roster?

Mark: We have a full roster finally, except for Jensen and Roach, who are still hurt. This game is real big. We need to win because they are not losing to any teams. I think they’ve got 18 wins already. Every time we play them we have got to beat them because maybe that’s the only time they’re going to get beat.

Steve: The national championships will be in Lincoln and that will be quite an experience if we get there because they’re hockey crazy there.

Mark: Yeah, it should be real fun.

Steve: I know this is probably your last year that you can play for the Bucs then.

Mark: Yeah, I turned 20 in September so this is my last full year.

Steve: Any plans for the future?

Mark: I would like to go to a four year university and play hockey. I played three years of juniors.

Steve: No letters have been signed yet?

Mark: No, not right now.

Steve: Well, I know all of us enjoy watching you play, and you are doing real good this year. We wish you the best of luck.

Mark: Thank you.