Des Moines Capitols

The Des Moines Capitols were a minor professional team founded in 1973 in Des Moines, Iowa. They played their home games at the Oak Creek Ice Arena. The Capitols were the successors of the Des Moines Oak Leafs; they, in fact, were the same team with a new name.

History
More successful than the Oak Leafs, the Capitols had an outstanding inaugural season in 1973-74 with a 45-25-6 record, good for 96 points; the result was particularly good since that team had more travel to do than its leaguemates. They went all the way to the Turner Cup finals in the playoffs, which they won by defeating the Saginaw Gears four games to two. Peter Mara was awarded the Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy, 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.

All-time results
Season Div. GP W  L  T OTL SOL Pts   Pct    GF  GA  PIM Result 1972-73 Southern 74 30 41 3  0   0   63 0.42568 279 360    0 1973-74 South   76 45 25  6  0   0   96 0.63158 316 247    0 Turner Cup champions 1974-75 IHLS    76 31 38  7  0   0   69 0.45395 253 264    0

Oak Leafs stars

 * Dany Gloor (1973 Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy winner)
 * Peter Mara (1974 James Gatschene Memorial Trophy and Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy winner)
 * Frank DeMarco (1974 Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy winner)

Head coaches

 * Dan Belisle (1972-1975)

External links and references

 * Capitols' seasons on hockeydb.com