LAREDO BUCKS

'Laredo Bucks'
'Founded'	2002
'Home ice'	Laredo Entertainment Center
'Based in'	Laredo, Texas
'Colors'	Blue and Gold
'League'	Central Hockey League
'Head coach'	Terry Ruskowski

The 'Laredo Bucks' are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. They play in Laredo, Texas, USA at the Laredo Entertainment Center.
:'Founded:' 2002–2003
:'Arena:' Laredo Entertainment Center (capacity 6,500)
:'Uniform colors:' blue and gold
:'Logo design:' A Buck over the state of Texas, with a star on the location of Laredo
:'Affiliates:' None
:'Division titles won:' 4
:'Regular season titles won:' 1
:'League championships won:' 2
:'Local Media:' Laredo Morning Times, CBS 13 KVTV-Laredo, NBC 8 KGNS-Laredo, Univision 27 KLDO-Laredo, El Manana

Contents

History

All-Star games

Championships

Year-by-year record

Year-by-year summary

Team records

Individual achievements

External links

History

Arena Ventures, made up of six businessmen, teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state-of-the-art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas. On August 12, 2002, Laredo voters approved a tax increase to pay for the new arena, which cost $36.5 million. The arena is currently managed by SMG Management.
After the success the Central Hockey League has had in South Texas in the past years, Laredo was encouraged to bring the first professional sports franchise into the city. The Bucks have proven successful, averaging attendance over 6,200 (78% capacity) in the regular season and nearly 6,500 (81% capacity) in the playoffs. The LEC Arena held 8,002 fans from 2002-2007, but was lowered to 6,500 starting with the 2007-08 season. The Bucks claimed the Ray Miron President's Cup (CHL Championship) for the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 seasons and the Governor's Cup (regular season Championship) in the 2003-2004 season. The Bucks have won the Southern Conference Championship, and Southeast Division Championship for the last four years.
Until August of 2007 the Laredo Bucks' AHL affiliate have always been the San Antonio Rampage. From 2002-2005 (three seasons), the Bucks were affiliated with the Florida Panthers (NHL). The Bucks' NHL affiliate changed to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 2005-2006 season.
In July 2007, The Bucks hired talented sports announcer Bryan Benway as their new radio voice. Benway graduated from HCCC and PSU in upstate NY with a bachlors in Radio/Television Broadcasting. Once an announcer for the Herkimer Generals, and Plattsburgh State Cardinals he went on to call for the Harlem Ambassadors and later the Little Falls Miners.

All-Star games

The Bucks also hosted the CHL All-Star game in the 2004-2005 season. The Laredo Bucks have sent many players to the Annual Central Hockey League All-Star game. In the 2002-2003 season, Laredo sent forwards Chris Grenville, Eric Schneider and defenseman Michel Periard to Oklahoma City to compete in the CHL All-Star game. Chris Grenville captured the hardest shot award at the skills competition. The following season (03-04), Laredo sent players Patrik Nilson, Serge Dube, Jeff Bes and Brent Cullaton. Cullaton captained the Southern Conference team and captured the fastest skater award, while Nilson won the accuracy shooting award. Coach Terry Ruskowski and his staff coached the Southern Conference because the Bucks had the best winning percentage at the break. In 2005, Laredo sent another three players: Adam Paiment, Jeremy Symington and Brent Cullaton. The North went on to beat the South 14-13 in a shootout. Brent Cullaton won Fastest Skater title for the second time in a row. In 2006, Coach Ruskowski, forward Jeff Bes, right wing James Hiebert, and defensemen Serge Dube all earned a spot on the all-star team. Jeff Bes won the CHL Southern Conference All-Star MVP in that year for his four goal effort. The 2006-07 Bucks All-Stars were Ruskowski, Bobby Chaumont, Chris Korchinski, and Adam Rivet.

Championships

Year	League	Trophy
2005-2006	CHL	Ray Miron President's Cup
2003-2004	CHL	Ray Miron President's Cup

Year-by-year record

'Year'	'GP'	'W'	'L'	'OTL'	'GF'	'GA'	'PTS'	'Finish'	'Playoffs'
2006-07	64	42	17	5	219	170	89	1st, Southeast	Lost in CHL Championship Series
2005-06	64	43	15	6	237	156	92	1st, Southeast	CHL Champions
2004-05	60	35	22	3	196	148	73	1st, Southeast	Lost in CHL Championship Series
2003-04	64	48	8	8	262	145	104	1st, Southeast	CHL Champions
2002-03	64	41	17	6	253	184	88	2nd, Southeast	Lost in Conference Championship Series

Year-by-year summary

:'2002-2003' The Laredo Bucks Bucks did extremely well in their inaugural season, making their way to the Conference Finals in the CHL playoffs.
:'2003-2004' Led by head coach Terry Ruskowski, the Bucks won the CHL Championship in 2004, by defeating the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in overtime of the seventh game. Defenseman Dion Hyman scored a controversial overtime goal to win the championship. The Bucks averaged the highest playoff attendance in minor league hockey throughout the 2004 CHL Playoffs.
:'2004-2005' The Bucks battled from a .500 record at the all-star break to the CHL finals, which they lost to the Colorado Eagles.
:'2005-2006' The Bucks enjoyed yet another successful season, finishing with 92 points (second in CHL) and defeating the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Odessa Jackalopes and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs en route to their second CHL championship in three years.
:'2006-2007' The Bucks once again won the Southeast Division Title with a 42-17-5 mark. The Bucks won playoff series' against division foes Rio Grande Valley, and Corpus Christi, while winning their fourth straight Southern Conference Title against New Mexico . The Bucks fell in the President's Cup Finals in six games to Colorado.

Team records

Records are as of the conclusion of the 2005-2006 season. Playoff stats are not included.
:'Goals:' 45 Chris Grenville (2002-03)
:'Assists:' 78 Jeff Bes (2003-04)
:'Points:' 117 Jeff Bes (2003-04)
:'Penalty Minutes:' 300 Mike Amodeo (2003-04)
:'GAA:' 2.03 Dov Grumet-Morris (2005-06)
:'SV%:' .932 David Guerrera (2003-04)
:'Career Goals:' 120 Chris Grenville
:'Career Assists:' 184 Jeff Bes
:'Career Points:' 276 Jeff Bes
:'Career Penalty Minutes:' 703 James Hiebert
:'Career Goaltending Wins:' 43 David Guerrera
:'Career Shutouts:' 6 David Guerrera
:'Career Games:' 207 Serge Dube

Individual achievements

Particular players and personnel that have been recognized numerous times by the CHL
2002-03
:'CHL Franchise of the Year': Laredo Bucks
:'Most Outstanding Defenseman': Michel Periard
2003-04
:'Regular season MVP': Jeff Bes
:'Rookie of the Year': David Guerrera
:'Playoff MVP': David Guerrera
:'Ticket Executive of the Year': Kit Preston
2004-05
:'Leadership Award': Glenn Hart
:'Merchandise Franchise of the Year': Michelle Sanchez, Jennifer Beckelhymer, Cindy Cisneros
:'Soul of Service': Nicole Thompson
2005-06
:'CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman:':Serge Dube
:'CHL Coach of the Year:': Terry Ruskowski
:'CHL Playoff MVP:': Jeff Bes
:'CHL All-Rookie Team:': Adam Rivet
:'CHL All-Rookie Team:': Dov Grumet-Morris
:'CHL Certified Athletic Trainer of the Year:': Bobby Moore
:'Rick Kozuback Award:': Glenn Hart
:'CHL Broadcaster of the Year:': Joe Dominey
2006-07
:'CHL Game Operations Franchise of the Year:': Mario Mecaroni

External links

★ Laredo Bucks official website

★ Laredo Bucks blog