Des Moines Buccaneers Explained

The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team has played in the Western Conference since the 2009–10 season.

History

The Buccaneers began USHL play during the 1980–81 season and have played all their home games at Buccaneer Arena located in Urbandale, Iowa, outside of Des Moines. The Buccaneers have won four Anderson Cup championships (1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98 and 1998–99) and four Clark Cup championships (1992, 1995, 1999 and 2006) in their history.

The Buccaneers also won three Gold Cups (in 1992, 1995, and 1998) for the Junior A National Championship awarded prior USA Hockey's 2001 realignment that shifted the USHL to Tier I status.

The Buccaneers have also had many players continue to play hockey after completing their USHL career in Des Moines. Many players have been given scholarships and move on to play NCAA Division I hockey, while others have gone on to play professional hockey. Most notably, Scott Clemmensen, a native of Des Moines, played for the Buccaneers before going to Boston College to play NCAA Division I hockey and then onto the New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers.

Clemmensen later became a co-owner of the Buccaneers as part of Orchard View Sports & Entertainment that purchased the team in 2017.^[1] Kyle Okposo, who played on the 2005–06 Clark Cup championship team prior to playing for the University of Minnesota and is now playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

Arena

The Bucaneers played their home games at Buccaneer Arena since their inception. The arena, built in 1962, is nicknamed "The Madhouse on Hickman."^[2] In 2020, the arena was damaged during the August 2020 Midwest derecho and the team was forced to start the 2020–21 season at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.^[3]

Season-by-season record

Season										Finish	Playoffs
1980–81	48	23	25	0	—	—	46	240	299	2nd, South	2–3 in Clark Cup round-robin (W, 10–6 vs. Green Bay;^[4] L, 5–11 vs. Dubuque; L, 2–7 vs. St. Paul;^[5] W, 5–4 vs. Waterloo; L, 3–7 vs. Austin^[6])
1981–82	48	18	29	1	—	—	37	265	314	6th	3–2 in Clark Cup round-robin^[7] (L, 4–6 vs. Bloomington; W, 5–2 vs. Sioux City; W, 11–5 vs. Dubuque; L, 6–7 vs. Austin; W, 9–1 vs. St. Paul) Lost Clark Cup Finals, 2–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers^[8]
1982–83	48	25	22	1	—	—	51	298	309	3rd	Won Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Bloomington Jr. Stars Lost Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers
1983–84	48	23	21	1	3	—	50	270	259	4th	Won Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. North Iowa Huskies Lost Semifinals, 0–3 vs. St. Paul Vulcans
1984–85	48	7	37	1	3	—	18	183	255	10th	did not qualify
1985–86	48	11	36	0	1	—	23	194	331	9th	did not qualify
1986–87	48	23	20	2	3	—	51	277	241	6th	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols
1987–88	48	23	19	3	3	—	52	266	270	4th	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols
1988–89	48	18	27	1	2	—	39	250	276	6th	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols
1989–90	48	17	29	2	0	—	36	216	297	8th	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Omaha Lancers
1990–91	48	28	13	2	5	—	63	247	187	T-2nd, USHL	Lost Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
1991–92	48	35	10	2	1	—	73	291	157	2nd, USHL	Won Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Sioux City Musketeers Won Semifinals, 3–2 vs. St. Paul Vulcans Won Clark Cup Finals, 3–1 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
1992–93	48	33	11	4	0	—	70	231	171	2nd, USHL	Won Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks Lost Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
1993–94	48	36	12	0	0	—	72	231	150	1st, USHL	Won Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Rochester Mustangs Won Semifinals, 3–0 vs. St. Paul Vulcans Lost Clark Cup Finals, 2–3 vs. Omaha Lancers
1994–95	48	38	5	5	0	—	81	290	144	1st, USHL	Won Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. North Iowa Huskies Won Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints Won Clark Cup Finals, 3–2 vs. Omaha Lancers
1995–96	46	21	21	2	2	—	46	177	174	7th, USHL	Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Omaha Lancers Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Rochester Mustangs
1996–97	54	37	13	—	4	—	78	245	168	3rd, South	Lost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. North Iowa Huskies
1997–98	56	40	14	—	2	—	82	226	148	1st, South	Won Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Green Bay Gamblers Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Lincoln Stars Lost Clark Cup Finals, 0–4 vs. Omaha Lancers
1998–99	56	48	7	—	1	—	97	304	133	1st, Central	Won Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Twin City Vulcans Won Semifinals. 3–2 vs. Lincoln Stars Won Clark Cup Finals, 4–2 vs. Omaha Lancers
1999–00	58	35	20	—	—	3	73	220	196	4th, West	Won Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Omaha Lancers Lost Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Green Bay Gamblers
2000–01	56	32	21	—	3	—	67	195	190	4th, West	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Omaha Lancers
2001–02	61	32	24	—	5	—	69	222	202	3rd, East	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Green Bay Gamblers
2002–03	60	27	27	—	2	4	60	200	223	3rd, East	Lost Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
2003–04	60	29	26	—	1	4	63	202	200	4th, West	Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Tri-City Storm
2004–05	60	17	37	—	2	4	40	174	244	6th, East	did not qualify
2005–06	60	33	21	—	3	3	72	208	173	T-1st, East	Won Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Omaha Lancers Won Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Won Clark Cup Finals, 3–2 vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
2006–07	60	29	21	—	1	9	68	215	206	6th, West	Won First Round, 3–2 vs. Omaha Lancers 2–0 in round-robin (W, 3–0 vs. Tri-City; W, 3–2 vs. Sioux Falls) Lost Semifinal game, 0–1 OT vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
2007–08	60	14	40	—	2	4	34	134	213	6th, West	did not qualify
2008–09	60	12	43	—	2	3	29	167	283	6th, East	did not qualify
2009–10	60	20	34	—	4	2	40	143	220	6th, West	did not qualify
2010–11	60	29	25	—	2	4	64	174	177	7th, West	did not qualify
2011–12	60	20	33	—	1	6	47	168	215	7th, West	did not qualify
2012–13	64	25	35	—	1	3	54	189	245	7th, West	did not qualify
2013–14	60	20	32	—	2	6	48	154	208	6th, West	did not qualify
2014–15	60	21	26	—	6	7	55	164	204	7th, West	did not qualify
2015–16	60	25	30	—	5	0	55	165	205	7th, West	did not qualify
2016–17	60	36	20	—	1	3	76	177	154	4th, West	Lost quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers
	60	20	33	—	4	3	47	145	199	8th, West	did not qualify
	62	35	22	—	1	4	75	202	177	4th, West	Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Fargo Force Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Tri-City Storm
	47	21	23	—	1	2	45	147	174	7th, West	Season cancelled
	51	26	21	—	4	0	56	158	152	5th, West	did not qualify
	62	18	39	—	3	2	41	166	238	8th, West	did not qualify
	62	25	28	—	5	4	59	167	194	6th, West	Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. Lincoln Stars
	60	24	29	—	5	2	55	176	198	7th, West	did not qualify

Gold Cup tournament

The Gold Cup was the USA Hockey Junior A National Championship that the USHL participated in at the end of the season against the regular season and playoff champions of the other Junior A leagues. The USHL stopped participation in the tournament after USA Hockey realigned its designations and the USHL became a Tier I league in 2001. The Gold Cup was discontinued after the 2003 tournament when the remaining Tier II Junior A leagues merged.^[9] Des Moines participated in five Gold Cup tournaments and won three Junior A National Championships.

Year	Round-Robin	Record	Semifinal Game	Championship Game
1992^[10]	W, 8–4 vs. Detroit Jr. Red Wings (NAHL) W, 7–4 vs. Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL) W, 5–3 vs. Indianapolis Jr. Ice (NAHL)	3–0–0	Not held	W, 9–1 vs. Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL) Won Gold Cup
1994^[11]	W, 9–5 vs. Kalamazoo Jr. Wings (NAHL) OTL, 5–6 (3OT) vs. Detroit Compuware (NAHL) L, 3–4 vs. Niagara Scenic (NAHL)	1–1–1	did not advance
1995^[12]	W, 6–1 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL) W, 6–2 vs. Detroit Freeze (NAHL) W, 5–1 vs. Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL)	3–0–0	W, 3–2 (2OT) vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)	W, 5–4 (OT) vs. Omaha Lancers (USHL) Won Gold Cup
1998^[13]	W, 6–3 vs. Billings Bulls (AFHL) W, 7–1 vs. Bozeman Icedogs (AFHL) W, 3–2 (OT) vs. Detroit Compuware (NAHL)	3–0–0	W, 4–2 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)	W, 2–1 vs. Omaha Lancers (USHL) Won Gold Cup
1999^[14]	W, 7–1 vs. St. Louis Sting (NAHL) W, 8–1 vs. Billings Bulls (AWHL) W, 3–0 vs. Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL)	3–0–0	W, 8–1 vs. Lincoln Stars (USHL)	L, 1–3 vs. Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL)^[15]

Coaches

• Ivan Prediger (1980–1984) – Resigned during the 1984–85 season. Jeff Ulrich was then named interim head coach.
• Jim Wiley (1984–1990) – Replaced interim head coach Jeff Ulrich during the 1984–85 season.^[16]
• Bob Ferguson (1990–1995, 2001–2004)
• Scott Owens (1995–1999)
• Tom Carroll (1999–2001)
• Regg Simon (2004–2008, 2010–2012) – Resigned during the 2007–08 season after 45 games. Replaced by interim Todd Knott. Rehired in 2010 to replace Guentzel, but was then fired towards the end of the 2011–12 season and replaced by interim Graham Johnson.
• J. P. Parisé (2008–2009) – Replaced interim head coach Knott but kept him on as an assistant. Became general manager of the Buccaneers in 2009 and vacated the coaching position.
• Mike Guentzel (2009–2010) – Dave Allison was originally hired for the 2009–10 season but then left the team prior to coaching a game due to immigration and work-visa concerns.^[17]
• Jon Rogger (2012–2014) – Replaced interim head coach Graham Johnson.
• Dave Allison (2014–2018)^[18]
• Gene Reilly (2018–2019)^[19]
• Peter Mannino (2019–2021)^[20]
• Matt Curley (2021–present)^[21]

Further reading

• News: Krull . Kirsten . There's no place like home for Des Moines Buccaneers . 25 September 2024 . The Rink Live . 27 October 2022 . en.
• News: Wolf . Sydney . Des Moines Buccaneers relocating venues for 2024-25 season . 25 September 2024 . The Rink Live . 29 August 2024 . en.
• News: Lathers . Addison . Joens . Philip . Des Moines Buccaneers out of Merle Hay hockey arena plan; mall says an arena is still a go . 25 September 2024 . The Des Moines Register . 3 July 2024.
• News: Clayworth . Jason . Stalled $60 million Bucs arena faces Iowa board . 25 September 2024 . 17 January 2024.
• News: Des Moines Buccaneers playing home games in West Des Moines this season . 25 September 2024 . KCCI . Hearst Television . 28 August 2024 . en.

External links

• Des Moines Buccaneers website
• Des Moines Buccaneers Cup Records
• Des Moines Buccaneers HockeyDB

Notes and References

1. Web site: USHL Approves Sale of Des Moines Buccaneers . United States Hockey League . October 28, 2017.
2. Web site: Bucs, Bucs, Bucs! CITYVIEW. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228200219/http://www.dmcityview.com/feature-2/2018/02/28/bucs-bucs-bucs/ . 2018-02-28 .
3. Web site: Des Moines Buccaneers to open season at Wells Fargo Arena . . October 13, 2020.
4. Web site: Bobcats vs. Bucs . The Des Moines Register . March 14, 1981.
5. Web site: Brawl ends hockey playoff game early, Buccaneers fall, 7–2 . The Des Moines Register . March 19, 1981.
6. Web site: March 22, 1981 paper . October 31, 2017.
7. Web site: Improved Bucs face 'ex-friends' in title playoff . . March 24, 1982 . October 30, 2017.
8. Web site: It's do or die tonight for the Buccaneers . Des Moines Tribune . April 2, 1982 . October 30, 2017.
9. Web site: TRADITION . Des Moines Buccaneers . November 1, 2017.
10. Web site: 1991–92 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
11. Web site: 1993–94 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
12. Web site: 1994–95 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
13. Web site: 1997–98 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
14. Web site: 1998–99 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
15. Web site: 1998–99 Bucs' archives . Des Moines Buccaneers . October 30, 2017.
16. Web site: Wiley Quitting as Coach of Bucs . . February 27, 1990.
17. Web site: Guentzel hired . The Des Moines Register . September 1, 2009.
18. Web site: Bucs Announce Reorganization . OurSportsCentral.com . April 16, 2018.
19. Web site: Des Moines Buccaneers Announce the Hiring of Former NCAA Coach & NHL Scout Gene Reilly as Their Head Coach . OurSportsCentral.com . June 13, 2018.
20. Web site: Des Moines Buccaneers Announce Peter Mannino as Head Coach . USHL . June 4, 2019 . June 19, 2019 . June 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190619221741/https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/1026095 . dead .
21. Web site: Matt Curley Named Head Coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers . OurSports Central . June 16, 2021.