Laredo Bucks

Pro hockey team
text_color = #c9b074
bg_color = #082567
team = Laredo Bucks

logosize = 140px
city = Laredo, Texas
league = Central Hockey League
conference = Southern Conference
division = Southeast Division
founded = 2002
arena = Laredo Entertainment Center
colors = Navy, Gold
owner =
coach = Terry Ruskowski
GM =
media =
affiliates =
name1 = Laredo Bucks
dates1 = 2002 to Present
reg_season_titles = One (2003-04)
division_titles = Five (2004-Present)
conf_titles = Four (2004-2007)
chl_championships = Two (2004, 2006)

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: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: :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

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 won four straight Southern Conference Championships from 2004-2007, and have Southeast Division Championship for the last five years (2004-present). Laredo has adavanced to play in the Southern conference Finals in each of their six seasons.

Until August 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.

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 defenceman 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. In the 2007–08 season the Bucks had three players voted as starters in the all-star game. Jeff Bes (3rd), Serge Dube (3rd), and Dustin Traylen (1st) represented the Bucks.

Championships

Year-by-year record

Year-by-year summary

:2002–2003 The Laredo 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. Defenceman 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.

:2007–2008 The Bucks won their fifth straight Southeast Division title, going 42-19-3 (87 points). Laredo would then sweep the Southern Conference semi-finals against Odessa four games to none, to advance to their sixth straight Southern Conference Finals series, only to lose to the eventual CHL Champion Arizona Sundogs in a seven game series.

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 Defenceman: 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 Defenceman::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, Danny Gutierrez

2007-08:CHL Corporate Sponsorhip Franchise of the Year:

External links

* [http://www.laredobucks.com Laredo Bucks official website]
* [http://laredobucks.blogspot.com Laredo Bucks blog]