The Des Moines Capitols, were a

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

professional ice hockey team in Des Moines, Iowa, playing at the

Des Moines Ice Arena Buccaneer Arena is a 3,461-seat, with standing room for an additional 700, multi-purpose arena in Urbandale, Iowa, that is home to the Des Moines Buccaneers ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League. Before the Bucs began playing in 1980 ...

. They were members of the International Hockey League from 1972 to 1975, and previously known as the

Des Moines Oak Leafs The Des Moines Oak Leafs were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Des Moines, Iowa, playing at Des Moines Ice Arena. The Oak Leafs were members of the United States Hockey League from 1961 to 1963, and the International Hockey Leag ...

. In 1973,

Danny Gloor Dan Harold Gloor (born December 4, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played two games in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, who selected him in the 1972 NHL amateur draft, and played several years i ...

won the

Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy The Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy, was awarded annually by the International Hockey League to the most outstanding first year player as voted on by the league's coaches. Prior to 1968, the award was known as the Leading Rookie Award. Winners ...

as rookie of the year. In 1973–74, the Capitols won the

Fred A. Huber Trophy The Fred A. Huber Trophy was awarded annually by the International Hockey League (1945-2001), International Hockey League to the North American ice hockey team with the most points during the regular season. The trophy for the league championship wa ...

as regular season champions, with a record of 45 wins, 25 losses, and 6 ties, totalling 96 points, despite having the most travelling of any team in the IHL. In the 1974 playoffs, the Capitols defeated the Saginaw Gears in six games to win the Turner Cup. The same season,

Peter Mara Peter John Mara (born July 5, 1947) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Early life Mara was born in Point Edward, Ontario. He played junior hockey with the Sarnia Legionnaires. Career Mara played 107 games in the Worl ...

was awarded the

Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy The Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy was awarded annually to the International Hockey League's leading point scorer. The trophy was donated by Melvin T. Ross, the manager of the Indiana State Fair Coliseum, in memoriam of Leo Lamoureux, coach of t ...

, as the league's leading scorer and the James Gatschene Memorial Trophy, as outstanding playing ability and sportsmanlike conduct; and Frank Demarco won the rookie of the year.

External links

Des Moines Capitols
at the Internet Hockey Database Yearly Stats
Des Moines Capitols
at the Internet Hockey Database Cumulative Roster

at AZ Hockey Database

Sports in Des Moines, Iowa International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States Ice hockey clubs established in 1972 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1975 1972 establishments in Iowa Ice hockey teams in Iowa 1975 disestablishments in Iowa Atlanta Flames minor league affiliates {{DesMoinesIA-stub