Des Moines Buccaneers

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. Kyle Okposo, who played on the 2005–06 Clark Cup championship team prior to playing for the University of Minnesota and played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Florida Panthers.

In August 2024, it was announced that the team had moved to MidAmerican Energy Co. RecPlex due to a mechanical issue with preparing the ice surface at Buccaneer Arena.

Arena

The Bucaneers played their home games at Buccaneer Arena since their inception. The arena, built in 1962, is nicknamed "The Madhouse on Hickman." 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.

Due to a mechanical issue with preparing the ice surface at Buccaneer Arena, the Des Moines Buccaneers currently play their home games at the MidAmerican Energy Co. RecPlex in West Des Moines. L, 5–11 vs. Dubuque; L, 2–7 vs. St. Paul; W, 5–4 vs. Waterloo; L, 3–7 vs. Austin)

| 1981–82 || 48 || 18 || 29 || 1 ||—||—|| 37 || 265 || 314 || 6th || 3–2 in Clark Cup round-robin (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 final, 2–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers

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| 1982–83 || 48 || 25 || 22 || 1 ||—||—|| 51 || 298 || 309 || 3rd || Won quarterfinal, 3–1 vs. Bloomington Jr. Stars Lost semifinal, 1–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers

| 1983–84 || 48 || 23 || 21 || 1 || 3 ||—|| 50 || 270 || 259 || 4th || Won quarterfinal, 2–0 vs. North Iowa Huskies Lost semifinal, 0–3 vs. St. Paul Vulcans

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| 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

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| 1986–87 || 48 || 23 || 20 || 2 || 3 ||—|| 51 || 277 || 241 || 6th || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols

| 1987–88 || 48 || 23 || 19 || 3 || 3 ||—|| 52 || 266 || 270 || 4th || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols

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| 1988–89 || 48 || 18 || 27 || 1 || 2 ||—|| 39 || 250 || 276 || 6th || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Madison Capitols

| 1989–90 || 48 || 17 || 29 || 2 || 0 ||—|| 36 || 216 || 297 || 8th || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Omaha Lancers

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| 1990–91 || 48 || 28 || 13 || 2 || 5 ||—|| 63 || 247 || 187 || T-2nd, USHL || Lost quarterfinal, 2–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints

| 1991–92 || 48 || 35 || 10 || 2 || 1 ||—|| 73 || 291 || 157 || 2nd, USHL || Won quarterfinal, 3–0 vs. Sioux City Musketeers Won semifinal, 3–2 vs. St. Paul Vulcans Won Clark Cup final, 3–1 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints

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| 1992–93 || 48 || 33 || 11 || 4 || 0 ||—|| 70 || 231 || 171 || 2nd, USHL || Won quarterfinal, 3–0 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks Lost semifinal, 0–3 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints

| 1993–94 || 48 || 36 || 12 || 0 || 0 ||—|| 72 || 231 || 150 || 1st, USHL || Won quarterfinal, 4–0 vs. Rochester Mustangs Won semifinal, 3–0 vs. St. Paul Vulcans Lost Clark Cup final, 2–3 vs. Omaha Lancers

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| 1994–95 || 48 || 38 || 5 || 5 || 0 ||—|| 81 || 290 || 144 || 1st, USHL || Won quarterfinal, 4–0 vs. North Iowa Huskies Won semifinal, 3–0 vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints Won Clark Cup final, 3–2 vs. Omaha Lancers

| 1995–96 || 46 || 21 || 21 || 2 || 2 ||—|| 46 || 177 || 174 || 7th, USHL || Won quarterfinal, 4–2 vs. Omaha Lancers Lost semifinal, 1–4 vs. Rochester Mustangs

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| 1996–97 || 54 || 37 || 13 ||—|| 4 ||—|| 78 || 245 || 168 || 3rd, South || Lost quarterfinal, 1–4 vs. North Iowa Huskies

| 1997–98 || 56 || 40 || 14 ||—|| 2 ||—|| 82 || 226 || 148 || 1st, South || Won quarterfinal, 4–0 vs. Green Bay Gamblers Won semifinal, 4–0 vs. Lincoln Stars Lost Clark Cup final, 0–4 vs. Omaha Lancers

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| 1998–99 || 56 || 48 || 7 ||—|| 1 ||—|| 97 || 304 || 133 || 1st, Central || Won quarterfinal, 3–0 vs. Twin City Vulcans Won semifinal 3–2 vs. Lincoln Stars Won Clark Cup final, 4–2 vs. Omaha Lancers

| 1999–2000 || 58 || 35 || 20 ||—||—|| 3 || 73 || 220 || 196 || 4th, West || Won quarterfinal, 3–1 vs. Omaha Lancers Lost semifinal, 2–3 vs. Green Bay Gamblers

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| 2000–01 || 56 || 32 || 21 ||—|| 3 ||—|| 67 || 195 || 190 || 4th, West || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Omaha Lancers

| 2001–02 || 61 || 32 || 24 ||—|| 5 ||—|| 69 || 222 || 202 || 3rd, East || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Green Bay Gamblers

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| 2002–03 || 60 || 27 || 27 ||—|| 2 || 4 || 60 || 200 || 223 || 3rd, East || Lost quarterfinal, 1–3 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks

| 2003–04 || 60 || 29 || 26 ||—|| 1 || 4 || 63 || 202 || 200 || 4th, West || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Tri-City Storm

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| 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 quarterfinal, 3–0 vs. Omaha Lancers Won semifinal, 3–0 vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Won Clark Cup final, 3–2 vs. Sioux Falls Stampede

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| 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

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| 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

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| 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

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| 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

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| 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

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| 2016–17 || 60 || 36 || 20 ||—|| 1 || 3 || 76 || 177 || 154 || 4th, West || Lost quarterfinal, 0–3 vs. Sioux City Musketeers

| 2017–18 || 60 || 20 || 33 ||—|| 4 || 3 || 47 || 145 || 199 || 8th, West || did not qualify

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| 2018–19 || 62 || 35 || 22 ||—|| 1 || 4 || 75 || 202 || 177 || 4th, West || Won first round, 2–0 vs. Fargo Force Lost conference semifinal, 0–3 vs. Tri-City Storm

| 2019–20 || 47 || 21 || 23 ||—|| 1 || 2 || 45 || 147 || 174 || 7th, West || season cancelled

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| 2020–21 || 51 || 26 || 21 ||—|| 4 || 0 || 56 || 158 || 152 || 5th, West || did not qualify

| 2021–22 || 62 || 18 || 39 ||—|| 3 || 2 || 41 || 166 || 238 || 8th, West || did not qualify

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| 2022–23 || 62 || 25 || 28 ||—|| 5 || 4 || 59 || 167 || 194 || 6th, West || Lost first round, 0–2 vs. Lincoln Stars

| 2023–24 || 60 || 24 || 29 ||—|| 5 || 2 || 55 || 176 || 198 || 7th, West || did not qualify

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| 2024–25 || 62 || 25 || 32 || — || 5 || 0 || 55 || 181 || 223 || 7th, West || did not qualify

| 2025–26 || 62 || 27 || 27 || — || 4 || 4 || 62 || 188 || 190 || 4th, West || Lost first round, 1–2 vs. Lincoln Stars

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. Des Moines participated in five Gold Cup tournaments and won three Junior A National Championships.

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! Year !! Round-Robin !! Record !! Semifinal Game !! Championship Game

| 1992 || 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 ||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 || colspan=2 |did not advance

| 1995 || 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 || 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 || 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)

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.
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.
Jon Rogger (2012–2014) – Replaced interim head coach Graham Johnson.
Dave Allison (2014–2018)
Gene Reilly (2018–2019)
Peter Mannino (2019–2021)
Matt Curley (2021–2025)
Derek Damon (2025-present)

References

External links

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

History

Arena

Gold Cup tournament

Coaches

References

Further reading

External links