European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Army capt. Mark Boussy has become a German hockey Star duty fantasy by Ron Mckinney staff writer it May sound a bit trite but there s an army officer running around Europe in his off time living a modern Day fairy tale of so Mark Boussas costume in t quite a White evening gown nor is this 180-Pouncf hockey player about to run around in  slippers. But his tale is More than just an upbeat account of a Guy who plays pick up hockey with a couple of germans on a Frozen Pond Boussy s is a True Cinderella Story it s about an army officer who s become a local German hero thrilling thousands of fans while leading his professional hockey team to an undefeated season it s a Radical change and a half a world away from his College playing Days before 400 relatively sedate fans. Quot i m Back in fantasy land Quot Boussy said Quot never in a million years did i think id be playing for a German pro team and certainly not in front of 7,000 people Quot this fairy tale began when Frankfurt s Bunde Sliga ice hockey team folded last year. The collapse of the first division team opened the door for a new team Frankfurt est Lowen although it was relegated to begin in Germany s fourth division the Region Aliga. Boussy who had been the number two scorer on Frankfurt s second team the previous two years a when the Patriot officer was t in saudi Arabia shooting at scud missile was selected by club president Walter Angela to be one of Frankfurt est Lowen s two Auslander foreign players. Angela said it was t a popular decision Quot nobody knows him who is Mark boussy7 nobody on the team trusted me now we re Happy to have made the  to said despite the doubters Angela insists ins was an easy decision. He brought Over a Canadian to fill the other Auslander Slot when that Canadian said two others wanted a tryout Angela told them not to bother. He had ins Man Quot he s a very Good fellow Quot Angela said of Boussy i m looking for players not Only to play hockey. I m looking for players with a Good brain and a Good mentality Quot Boussy a Patriot missile tactical director and assistant operations officer for the 2nd in 43rd air defense arty in Mark Bouasay scores then celebrates in the 14-4 playoff win last weekend against Hec Bonn. Hanau Germany fits that Bill. He signed a contract with Frankfurt est Lowen Worth More than the $2,600 a month he makes As an army Captain but with a lopsided Grin he declined to say How much More. He likes to think that his army career has taught him How to push himself on the ice. And that even team management agrees is the secret to his Success. Quot i Don t play on Talent Quot Boussy said. Quot if i played on my Talent i would t even be Able to put my skates on at tvs level it s been a lot of work. It s not like i just walked out  most of his teammates Are full time hockey players but Boussy balances his military career with this Cinderella dream of his. That sometimes Means getting Home from an away game at 3 of clock monday morning and being at his office five hours later. On the ice no one a not even Langelan expected Boussy to become the scoring machine he has the rugged right Wing scored 41 goals and 77 Points in the 20-game regular season finishing second in the league in go Asp and third in Points. A Quot i think that was a pleasant Surprise for the team Quot said team Captain Roger Nicholas a naturalized German citizen from Hartford Conn. Quot i was Kinda surprised . Boussy was not alone in putting the puck in the net Frankfurt est Lowen established new records in outscoring their opponents 316-42 in an undefeated 20-game regular season. In the last four games of the season Frankfurt crushed their opponents 107-5. Yes that s 26 goals a game. To one. The Streak included wins of 33-1 in one game and 32-0 in the regular season finale Boussy accounted for eight goals and nine assists in those two  a Pivotal playoff against Schalke the Ober Liga s Germany s third division weakest team Frankfurt swept the series 9-1 and 10-3. That qualified Frankfurt for a 24-game Ober Liga postseason playoff which began last weekend with a 14-4 trouncing of Hec Bonn and a 12-2 win at Etc Unna. This weekend Frankfurt est plays its series against Etc Immendorf the Ober Liga s regular season champions. After the opening game win against Schalke at Frankfurt s Eisse Orthall the overflow crowd of 7,000 waited 10 minutes for the team to make its curtain Call. The players were treated to a standing ovation As the crowd first chanted Quot hey hey hey. And then Sang Queen s we will Rock you. As has become his custom. Boussy took an american Flag from fans and skated around the rink waving it Quot its quite a  Boussy said of the vocal fans Quot you a never find that kind of atmosphere at an ice hockey rink in the states it just does not  so devoted Are these Frankfurt fans that at the second game played at Schalke a three hour drive North of Frankfurt there were 1.200 fans at the rink a 1,000 from Frankfurt. When the season started last october Boussy Felt he had to make a Point of scoring goals to establish himself As a Star a As an Auslander often must to stay on a team. He has since Learned that feeding the puck to the team s scoring Leader Trevor Erhardt 45 goals 115 Points is equally satisfying with Erhardt As his Center Boussy said he enjoys going to the Corner and fighting for the puck. Quot i feel a lot More confident playing in the Corner playing a More physical style and getting the puck to him Erhardt to score. That s More my style Quot Boussy said. The team s sensational Success has made the players More than just Darlings of a packed House at the Eisse Orthall. It s also made a celebrity of Boussy. Last november Rel a a German television station a placed Boussy a photo up next to two German sports stars in the state of Hessen. The station took Call in votes and Boussy was named sportsman of the month. He has been interviewed live four times on an morning radio. On an television he s appearing on Gasthaus on feb. 13 and in a five minute spot Lite Boussy even has his own cadre of German fans some who Wear an official Lowen Jersey with Boussy s name on the Back. And when their american Star scores a goal the standing room Only spectators sing an old German Folk song in tribute to him a an Honor bestowed solely on Boussy. It s loosely translated As Quot in life some shots done to hit except for one except for one the shots of Mark  Boussy flashed his Grin when asked about that. To him playing hockey for Frankfurt Lowen is just a dream. All this business about fans wanting his autograph having his own group of american fans As Well As German is to him Well unbelievable. Quot at first i guess i was embarrassed Quot Boussy said. Army capt. Mark Boussy is a Patriot missile officer by Day a professional hockey Star by night. Quot Why would someone want my autograph now it s real common and i enjoy  although Boussy is playing for a German team his compatriot fans can be seen waving a Large american Flag. Quot that gives me the extra incentive to push a Little harder Quot he said. Boussy s crowd Appeal makes him a Winner in Angela s assessment. For the team to survive they had to draw Well. Winning is one Way of doing it relating to the fans is quite another. Quot we must be All one family Quot Angela said. Quot one part is fighting on the ice and the other family is in the stands. But it s one  Boussy never imagined he would be skating for a professional team even when he dreamed about it in Boston at age five when he started skating. As he puts it reality set in As he became older. He was Captain of his division ii College team at Norwich University it and even made sports illustrate is faces in the crowd when he scored Back to Back hat tricks for his College team. But any thoughts of professional hockey gave Way to reality when he was commissioned in the army in 1986 and despite his personal Success on Frankfurt est Lowen Boussy has no illusions about his decision not to pursue a career in the National hockey league. A i m certainly not Good enough for the nil or the minor leagues Quot he said. Also All the Success and attention drawn to the team has made positions on the team More competitive three first division players were brought in Midway through the season and now team management is discussing the option of moving up to the second division. That move would Likely end Boussy s career with Frankfurt est Sas photos by Jim Derheim Lowen in Tavoi of a More expensive a Tofu Ign Plavni ii he s not Cut by the team his army ease i will Likely provide the stroke of Midnight that ends his pistes signal hockey Lairy tale Boussy expects to be  to an Aimy professional development school in Texas this Spring and oven it lie loses his Glass slippers Boussy will look Back on this season with Tond memories its Only a dream Quot Boussy said Quot i be collected a lot of Memorabilia from the team and later on in life i can open my scrapbook and be member  i Tulli led  dream playoffs Frankfurt est Lowen s Obei Liga playoff schedule feb. 7 Etc Immendorf at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m feb. 9 Frankfurt est at Etc Timmond oif 7 p m feb. 11 Gro Frather dec at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m feb. 14 hamburger so at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m feb. 16 Frankfurt est at Bonn 8 p m feb. 18 Frankfurt est at at Gro Frather dec 8 p m feb. 21 dec Dorsten at Frankfurt est. 7 30 p m feb. 23 est Wolfsburg at Frankfurt est 6 p m feb. 28 Rev Bremerhaven at Frankfurt. 7 30 p m March 1 her Forder leg at Frankfurt est 7 p m March 6 Frankfurt est at her Forder leg 7 p m March 8 Frankfurt est at Rev Bremerhaven 7 p m March 13 est Wolfsburg at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m March 15 Frankfurt est at dec Dorsten 7 p m March 20 dec Harz Bruun Lage at Frankfurt 7 30 p m March 22 Frankfurt est at Hamburg of so 7 p March 27 Etc Unna at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m March 29 Frankfurt est at est we Demark 7 p m april 3 est we Demark at Frankfurt est 7 30 p m april 5 Frankfurt est at dec Harz Brau Lago 7 p m april 10 Frankfurt est at Herner eve 8pm april 12 Horner eve at Frankfurt est 7 p m Frankfurt est s Home games Are played at the Eisse Orthall for ticket information Contact the Eisse Orthall at 069-419141, but be prepared to speak German sellout crowds of 7,000 fans watch Boussy steam. Many of them come to cheer the american. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday february 5, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 15