Laredo Bucks
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| Laredo Bucks | |
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| 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 8,002)
- Uniform colors: blue and gold
- Logo design: A Buck over the state of Texas, with a star on the location of Laredo
- Affiliates: Phoenix Coyotes (NHL), San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
- Division titles won: 3
- 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
Contents |
[edit] 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 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 Southeast Division in the Southern Conference for the last three years.
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.
[edit] 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. Terry Ruskowski and his staff coached the Southern Conference due to having 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 Terry 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.
[edit] Championships
| Year | League | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | CHL | Ray Miron President's Cup |
| 2003-2004 | CHL | Ray Miron President's Cup |
[edit] Year-by-year record
| Year | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PTS | Finish | Playoffs |
| 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 |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] Individual Achievements
Particular players and personnel that have been recognized numerous times by the CHL
2002-03
- 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
[edit] External links
| Central Hockey League | |
| 2006-07 teams: Amarillo Gorillas | Arizona Sundogs | Austin Ice Bats | Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs | Colorado Eagles | Corpus Christi Rayz | Laredo Bucks | Lubbock Cotton Kings | Memphis RiverKings | New Mexico Scorpions | Odessa Jackalopes | Oklahoma City Blazers | Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees | Rocky Mountain Rage | Tulsa Oilers | Wichita Thunder | Youngstown Steelhounds | |
| Suspending operations for 2006-07 season: Fort Worth Brahmas | |
| Trophies and Awards: Ray Miron President's Cup | |
| Related Articles: NHL | AHL | ECHL | SPHL | UHL | World Cup | |
