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Des Moines Buccaneers

Bucs Opening Training Camp

September 7, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


Urbandale (IA) Season number two of Regg Simon's return to Des Moines begins this Friday when the Buccaneers take to the ice for the start of the team's training camp. The players will go through on-ice drills and off-ice conditioning for the better part of a week leading into an extensive preseason schedule designed to test physical and mental stamina.

Talk with any United States Hockey League team and their answer when asked about their expectations for the upcoming season are universally positive. That is no different in Des Moines, but in the short-term the Buccaneers' coaching staff's expectation is to see players ready to play the game.

"The one thing about camp it this: If a player is out of shape, they can't hide. All of the players have been asked, and are expected to, show up in elite shape ready to play" says Simon. "With a very demanding opening week of practice and exhibition game schedule, we'll know if they've done their part during the off-season."

The Buccaneers are one of the last USHL teams to begin their training camp but that isn't an issue for Simon. "The bottom line is, if the players have done their part at home and come to town in elites shape, then we are way ahead of the game because we spend more time teaching as opposed to trying to get them to a conditioning level where they can play at a high tempo for a forty second shift."

Simon pointed out that when he played for the Bucs, former head coach Bob Ferguson had only four practices before their first preseason game in 1994.

Though the Bucs' are just now gathering as a full group, roughly half the invited players have already been in town for a while attending either Valley High School or Des Moines Area Community College. The remainder of the team filtered into town over the Labor Day weekend.

Training camp will bleed into a preseason slate that will see the Buccaneers play seven games in eight days beginning September 16th in Waterloo. Des Moines will play two preseason home games on Sunday September 18th at 3pm against Sioux Falls and Tuesday September 20th at 7pm versus Waterloo.

Des Moines officially begins their 32nd season with the home opener Saturday October 1st at 7pm against Fargo.

The Des Moines Buccaneers will be playing their 32nd consecutive season in the United States Hockey League beginning in the fall of 2011. Since 1980, the Buccaneers have produced hundreds of NCAA Division I players and dozens of professional alumni. Season Ticket Packages and Corporate Partnership information for the 2011-2012 season.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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