The Laredo Bucks are considered to be one of the premier minor league hockey franshises.
The Bucks success in their first six seasons have been tremendous, having won two CHL President's Cup Championships (2004, 2006), four straight Southern Conference Championships (2004-2007), five straight Southeast Division Championships (2004-present), and the 2004 Governor's Cup (regular season Championship).
The Bucks made history in 2004, when they went an all-time CHL best 48-8-8, with a 21-game home winning streak.
In the 2004 President's Cup Finals the Bucks made more history, as they became the first CHL/WPHL team to come back from a 3-1 series deficit to win their first Championship in a thrilling seven game series over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. The Bucks Dion Hyman would score the OT game-winner in the seventh game, in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,002 at the LEC, and with over 3,000 fans watching outside on big screens.
The Bucks would win their second CHL President's Cup in 2006, when they would beat the Mudbugs four games to one. Igor Agarunov would score the Cup winning goal with 2:03 left in game five, to give Laredo a 4-3 win, after they trailed 3-0 in the first period.
Terry Ruskowski has been the only head coach and general manager in the teams six year history, winning over 250 regular season games, and winning 13 of 17 playoff series'. In September 2007 "Coach Rosco" signed a lifetime contract to coach the franchise.
The fans favorite players include the franchises all-time leading scorer Jeff Bes (2004-present), team captain Serge Dube (2002-present), Steve Weidlich (2002-present), Steve Simoes (2003-present), James Hiebert (2003-present), Igor Agarunov (2005-present), and Adam Rivet (2005-present).
Former Bucks players who made a name for themselves with fans include Chris Grenville (2003-2006), Brent Cullaton (2003-2006), David Guerrera (2003-2005), and Dov Grumet-Morris (2005-06).
The Bucks play in the 6,500 seat Laredo Entertainment Center, where they averaged over 5,300 fans per game during the 2008 postseason, including a sellout crowd of 7,987 in game one of the conference semi-finals against Odessa.
BUCKS' OWNER GLENN HART WINS CHL LEADERSHIP AWARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bryan Benway, Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting
956-206-4786
Bucks’ Owner Glenn Hart Wins CHL Leadership Award
LAREDO, TX- Laredo Bucks Majority Owner Glenn Hart was honored with the CHL Leadership award Saturday night (June 5th) at the Central Hockey League’s annual summer conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
The award is Hart’s third CHL honor, as he won the 2004-05 Leadership Award, along with the 2005-06 Rick Kozuback Award.
Along with Hart’s win the Bucks were also nominated for the CHL Group Sales Franchise of the year, and CHL Corporate Partnership Executive of the year (Donald Thomson).
“The CHL Leadership Award means a lot to me because it comes from the Commissioner and his staff,” Hart said. “I have tremendous respect for the League’s Management Team.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that Glenn Hart is the best owner in our league,” said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “Glenn deserves to win this award every year because he truly is a great leader and he puts us in position to be successful both on and off the ice.”
In Hart’s eight seasons as the Bucks owner the team has thrived, winning two CHL President’s Cup Championships, while capturing 10 CHL awards and consistently placing in the top five in the league in attendance, season ticket sales, and corporate partnership sales among other aspects. Last season the Bucks led the entire CHL in corporate partnership sales.
“I have been blessed to be an owner in the IHL (when it was the highest league in the world outside the NHL), the WPHL, AAA Baseball, and AF2, and the CHL is by far, the best run league I have been a part of in my 17 years as a sports team owner,” Hart said. “All I try to do to serve the league is to share the benefit of all of the positive lessons I have learned from other people and situations, as well as the mistakes that I have made and seen others make.”
This past season the Bucks made history as they became the first CHL team to host the All-Star game twice in the same venue (Laredo Entertainment Center: 2005, 2010). On January 13th nearly 4,000 fans were on hand while the game was televised to nearly 10 million homes on the America One Network.
The Bucks also continued to have a strong presence in the Laredo community during the 2009-10 season. The Bucks have attended over 150 community events in 2010 and have donated over $70,000 to local charities since April of 2007.
In March of 2010 Hart’s company, Laredo Energy, purchased the naming rights to the then-Laredo Entertainment Center giving the building a different name for the first time in its eight-year history. Hart also pledged that hockey would stay in Laredo for many years to come.
“From my sharing of my experiences, I hope to help the CHL continue to grow and prosper,” Hart said. “After all, a healthy CHL makes our own beloved Laredo Bucks more successful!”
The Bucks will start their ninth CHL season in October 2010. Season tickets are on sale now for the 2010-11 season. Call 718-BUCK (2825) to place our order now.
2010-11 BUCKS SEASON TICKETS
Contact your personal Bucks representative or call 718-BUCK (2825) today to get your 2010-11 Bucks season tickets!
BUCKS IN THE COMMUNITY
To schedule an appearance by a Bucks player, coach, Bucky, or member of the front office staff contact Nicole Kupaks at (956)523-6590, or e-mail her at nkupaks@laredobucks.com.
BECOME A BUCKS CORPORATE PARTNER
Your company can become a vital part of the Laredo Bucks family by reaching our fans with your business message. To create a customized advertising package for your company, contact Aaron Ternes at (956) 523-7723, or aternes@laredobucks.com.
BUCKS RADIO HOME
All 64 of the Bucks regular-season games, plus any additional post-season games can be heard live all-season on Imagen 94.1-FM, as well as online at laredobucks.com. You can also watch all Bucks games online via CHL-TV.
JOIN THE BUCKS BOOSTER CLUB
To join the Laredo Bucks Booster Club contact club President Olga Guerra at 956-724-3429, or 956-763-7478, or e-mail at OJG1180@aol.com.
2004 & 2006 CHL President’s Cup Champions
2003-04 Governors’ Cup Regular Season Champions
Laredo Bucks -- 2002-03 CHL Franchise of the Year
