![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
Unlike many other sports, ice hockey is not an official sport under the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Those wishing to play have limited opportunities in the Midwest High School Hockey League (MWHSHL). The MWHSHL has teams from across Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Ankeny High School (AHS) students play for one of three in the Des Moines metro. Those teams include the Ames Cyclones, the Des Moines Capitals, and the Des Moines Oak Leafs.
Every year, the Oaks Leafs and Capitals host one of their cross-town rivalry matches the week of Thanksgiving. The Turkey Cup is an opportunity for the teams to collect funds for community outreach efforts.
“The Turkey Cup means a lot to me,” said Ankeny Centennial High School (ACHS) junior Beau Pennington, of the Des Moines Oak Leafs.
AHS junior Brett Augustine, from the Des Moines Capitals, said the Turkey Cup brings together the Des Moines hockey community and provides “…an opportunity to play with and reunite with people I’ve played with my whole life.”
“The Turkey Cup is the biggest attendance game of our season and brings out people from all over the Des Moines area. We get to see people that have graduated and left the program,” Augustine said.
AHS junior Gage Behrens of the Des Moines Capitals agrees with Augustine mentioning that the ability to play in front of friends, family, and community residents who typically do not come to games is a great opportunity for the teams.
AHS junior Greyson Beenen of the Des Moines Oak Leafs says “Our team uses Turkey Cup as an opportunity to reach out to the community and help people in need.”
This year the game proceeds supported the Adopt-a-Family program which helps support Des Moines families in need through the holiday season. This year players from both the Oak Leafs and Capitals will shop for and wrap presents that will be given to children in their program.
On Nov. 26 the Des Moines Oak Leafs hosted the Des Moines Capitals for the Turkey Cup at the RecPlex in West Des Moines. Despite being away, the Capitals junior varsity (JV) team looked strong, securing the 4-2 win in the third period with an empty net goal scored by Dallas Center-Grimes sophmore Jackson Omvig. The JV team improved to 10-1 on the season. In the varsity match, a fast-paced game saw the Capitals take a lead in the first period. The Oaks Leafs came into the second period looking to get back into the game, a hope that was stopped by Gage Beherns, when he scored his fifth goal of the season. The Capitals held strong throughout the third period and would improve to 9-2 on the season.
