Des Moines Buccaneers

Tonight, Linda and I checked out the Des Moines Buccaneers, a USHL Tier 1 team that has built a history of remarkable success. That success has produced several champions banners positioned all around the flag of the United States of America. Before every game, everyone in the place will pause and look at that part of the arena while listening to our national anthem. The eye can't help wandering from the flag to those banners. It was pretty impressive to me.

Attending a game at the arena is a combination of excellent hockey, great fans, and an arena music coordinator with an amazing sense of humor and timing. The smaller ice and speed and skill of the players made for a very active and entertaining evening. The play included successions of end to end breaks by both teams as well as very controlled passing sequences leading to excellent shots and many great saves by both goalies. These players are all twenty years of age or less and amateur. Three former Bucs are in the NHL at this time. These guys are good.

Linda and I had several good chuckles at the musical selections that were perfect fits for the situations. As soon as there was any break in the action on the ice, an appropriate song snippet was playing on a sound system that was suprisingly well suited to the Quonset hut style arena. Some of the memorable examples: Carly Simon's You're No Good as the opposing team came onto the ice, the theme from Law and Order as the officials skated in, and a particulary good choice when one of the Bucs was skating off after a particularly hard check into the boards: I'm Alright. We also noticed that very few songs were heard more than once in the evening; they must have access to a great library of songs and well thought out situations for their play.

The fans are passionate about their Bucs. These two senior ladies were very much involved in the game, at one point, even leading a "Go Bucs!" cheer in our section. A group of eighteen boys, probably about eight years old were in the rows directly behind them. Their dance moves caught the attention of our section from time to time as well. Unlike a lot of stadiums, when the scoreboard asks for noise, these fans produce! Big time!! The amazing energy of the place made for a great experience.

Oh... the game... Tied at four at the end of regulation play and the five minute fourth period, the Bucs won in a shootout 5-4.