Bes Comes Back to Bucks

September 6, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, Texas - The 2006 CHL President's Cup Champion Laredo Bucks announced today at the Whataburger by the LEC that they have signed forward Jeff Bes. Bes was the 2006 CHL Playoff MVP, tying a CHL record with 31 points and five game winning goals in the post-season. In conjunction with the announcement, Whataburger has created the Jeff Bes Burger, which will be available at all Whataburger locations in Laredo thru this Saturday night ending at 11 p.m. He is the 17th player signed this off season by Laredo. The Bucks are offering a family four pack of season tickets for the 2006-07 CHL regular season, which works out to just over $7 a seat per game and is a 48 % savings off walkup prices. For more info on 2006-07 Bucks season tickets log onto www.laredobucks.com or call (956) 718-BUCK (2825).

Bes, 6'0" 190 pounds, led the Bucks with 61 assists and 88 regular season points. He was fourth in the CHL in assists and seventh in points. Bes missed the first eight games of the season due to injury, but piled up numbers at a prolific pace, averaging 1.57 points per game in 56 regular season contests.

"Jeff is our new playing assistant coach," said Ruskowski. "His hockey ability is a major reason we have had success in Laredo. Obviously when you can bring back the MVP of the playoffs it is a huge benefit. His leadership will help the younger guys and teach them how to be successful professionals."

Bes, a native of Tillsonburg, Ontario, was selected as the third best playmaker in CHL Best of the Best poll. He was selected to start for the Southern Conference in the 2006 CHL All-Star Game and was named the Southern Conference All-Star Game MVP after scoring four goals.

In the post-season he exploded for 11 goals and a CHL playoff record tying 31 points. Bes scored a series ending overtime goal in Game Six of the first round against Rio Grande Valley, and also had an OT winner in Game Three of the Finals against Bossier-Shreveport. Five of his 11 goals were game winners, tying the CHL playoff record, and three came in the President's Cup Finals as the Bucks defeated Bossier-Shreveport in five games to capture the cup.

"I am thrilled to be back," said Bes. "I am looking forward to being a part of the continued winning tradition with the Bucks. The sponsors, the fans and the city make it one of the best places to play in minor pro hockey."

Bes will be assuming the role of the Bucks player / assistant coach this season.

"To be a player assistant coach and learn from one of the best coaches in the CHL in Terry Ruskowski is huge," said Bes. "A lot of his former players have gone on to successful coaching careers."

Whataburger has created the Jeff Bes Burger, which will be available at all Whataburger's in Laredo thru this Saturday night ending at 11 p.m. The double meat, double cheese and bacon burger will be priced at $4.11. Normally $5.69, the Jeff Bes burger's price reflects Bes' uniform number 11. In addition the combo meal featuring the Jeff Bes burger, normally priced at $7.89, will be offered at $6.11.

"It's a great honor to have a burger named after me. Whataburger is an institution in Texas," said Bes.

In 2004-05 he led the Bucks with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points. His 71 points was tied for 12th in the CHL. Bes was one of three players who played in all 60 regular season games.

In the 2005 playoffs he led the team with eight goals and tied for the team lead with 14 points. Bes scored the overtime game winning goal in Game Three of the 2005 President's Cup Finals against Colorado.

Bes tied a franchise record by scoring five consecutive goals for the Bucks from 10/23/04-10/24/04.

In 2003-04 Bes had a dream season as he scored a career high 39 goals, led the CHL with 78 assists and 117 points and was selected as the CHL regular season MVP. He was also selected to the starting lineup for the 2004 CHL All-Star Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He led the CHL in plus / minus at plus 42 and had a CHL best 24-game point streak. In the 2003-04 CHL Best of the Best poll, Bes was selected as the Best Playmaker, second Best Stick Handler and Penalty Killer, and third in the Best Overall Player category. He teamed with Brent Cullaton and Chris Grenville to form the vaunted "Three Amigo" line. In the playoffs he totaled four goals and 18 points as he helped the Bucks capture the 2004 President's Cup

He was selected by Minnesota North Stars in the third round in 1992, the 58th overall pick of the draft. During his junior career he helped Team Canada win a Gold Medal in the 1992-93 World Junior Tournament, where he played on a line with Paul Kariya

The Bucks open training camp on October 9th at the LEC. The regular season begins on October 21st at Corpus Christi. Laredo will have their home opener against Rio Grande Valley on October 28th at the LEC.

The Bucks are offering a family four pack of season tickets for the 2006-07 CHL regular season, that works out to just over $7 a seat per game and is a 48 % savings off walkup prices. For more info contact a Bucks season ticket representative at (956) 718-BUCK (2825).

2005-06 Bucks Highlights: Missed first eight games of the season on IR....Debuted on 11/11 vs. AMA had two goals and two assists in 6-5 shootout win...Had a goal and two assists on 11/20 vs. RGV...Had a goal and two assists on 11/25 vs. ODE...Had three points, including a goal, on 11/30 vs. RGV...Had two goals and an assist on 12/18 vs. COR...Had fifth career hat trick, including franchise leading fourth with Laredo, on 01/06 vs. YNG...Had two goals on 01/08 at COR...Selected to start for Southern Conference All-Star Team...Scored four goals and was Southern Conference MVP in 2006 CHL All-Star Game...Had a ten game point streak that ended on 01/11...Had a goal and two assists on 02/25 at COR...Had two goals and one assist on 03/01 vs. RGV...Was plus six in both January and February...Had a goal and three assists on 03/18 at AUS...Had two goals on 03/25 at COR...Registered a point in last eight games of regular season...Was selected third best playmaker in CHL Best of the Best poll...Had team high 88 points in 56 games in regular season, 1.57 points per game...Was 7th in the CHL in points, tied for fourth with 61 assists... Playoffs: Led the CHL Playoffs with 31 points and tied the all-time record...Also tied all-time record with five game winning goals...Tied for the playoff lead with 20 assists, was second with 11 goals...Scored overtime goal in GM 6 vs. RGV in the first round to win the series...Had a hat trick in GM 1 of the President's Cup Finals vs. BOS...Scored a goal in every game in the President's Cup Finals...

2004-05 Bucks Highlights: Recorded a hat trick in home opener on 10/23 vs COR...Tied a franchise record by scoring five straight goal from 10/23-10/24...Had 14 PIMs on 11/06 vs AUS...Had two goals on 11/26 vs COR...Had a goal and two assists on 01/26 vs AUS...Assisted on three of four goals on 02/18 vs NMX...Had two goals and an assist on 02/26 at COR...Had three assists on 03/05 at TOP...Had a goal and four assists on 03/16 vs AUS, goal came in third period and was his 700th career point....Scored 10 of his 26 goals against COR...44 of 71 points came against AUS, COR, and RGV...Had points in 13 of the last 15 regular season games...Passed 700 point and 1000 PIM plateau this year...Had points in 11 straight games from 12/02--12/31...Played in all 60 games, one of three Bucks to do so...Finished tied for 12th in the CHL with 71 points, was tied for 10th with 45 assists...Tied for 13th in the CHL at +23...



Central Hockey League Stories from September 6, 2006


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