Bucks 2007-08 Season In Review

Published on April 29, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, TX- Although the Laredo Bucks did not accomplish their ultimate goal of winning a third President's Cup Championship, they team had another successful Central Hockey League season in 2007-08.

The Bucks finished the regular season with a 42-19-3 (87 points) mark, winning their fifth straight Southeast Division crown, as well as the Southern Conference Regular season title. The Bucks swept Odessa in four games to advance to their sixth straight Southern Conference Finals, where they fell to upstart Arizona in seven games.

*SEPTEMBER 2007* On September 5th the Bucks made noise around the CHL, when they announced that head coach/GM Terry Ruskowski had signed a life time contract to coach the club. At the press conference Ruskowski said "There are certain people in this world that I never want to let down, the Good Lord, my parents, my family, our ownership, and our Bucks fans".

*OCTOBER 2007* The Bucks opened training camp on October 8th, with 25 players trying to make the opening day roster. The Bucks would finish the pre-season with a 2-1 mark, and head out on their season opening road trip with their final roster at 21 players.

Laredo's opening day roster consisted of 10 returning Bucks, with two players on injured reserve (Steve Weidlich, Jeff Genovy).

In the Bucks second game of the year Jeff Bes became the franshise's all-time leader in goals scored with 121. Bes scored the record goal in overtime to lead Laredo to a 5-4 comeback win in New Mexico.

James Hiebert was named player of the week for his efforts in the Bucks first two games. Hiebert had a very productive opening weekend, scoring four goals (one on the power-play) while handing out an assist (on the power-play), and netting a short-handed goal in the Bucks two wins over New Mexico.

The Bucks would storm through the CHL in the first month of the season, starting 10-0 to tie the CHL record for most consecutive wins to start a season. In those first 10 wins the Bucks posted three shutouts, two by Dustin Traylen, and one by Kevin Beech.

Bes and Traylen would sweep player/goalie of the week honors during the last week of the month. It was the first time in team history that Laredo has swept the CHL weekly awards. Bes scored nine points in the four Bucks games that week, while Traylen went 2-0 shutting out Corpus Christi twice.

For his efforts Traylen was named the CHL's goalie of the month for October. In the month of October Traylen went 4-0, with two shutouts, to go along with a 1.48 goals against average, and a .941 save percentage.

*NOVEMBER 2007* The Bucks went 9-3-1 in the month of November, including sweeping a two-game series with New Mexico on Thanksgiving Weekend. Laredo beat New Mexico 3-2 and 5-2 on back-to-back nights, with Traylen stopping 73 of 77 Scorpions shots in the two game sweep.

Also in November the Bucks picked up five wins against Rio Grande Valley, including a 2-1 win on the last day of the month in Hidalgo. Paul Elliott scored with just 2:30 left in the third period to propel Laredo to the win.

*DECEMBER 2007* The month of December saw the Bucks hit a few road bumps, going through a stretch where they went 0-2-1 in a three-game weekend from December 7-9. The Bucks would fall in Texas in a shootout 3-2, fall in Corpus the next night 4-2, and suffer their first home shutout loss of the season to Arizona 3-0. Laredo would also suffer their worst loss of the season in Odessa, as they were blanked 6-0 by the Jackalopes on December 20th.

Laredo would rebound after that night, winning the last five games of the month, including taking two one-goal games in Arizona by 2-1, and 6-5 (SO) scores. Bes scored a hat trick in the shootout win, with all three of his goals coming via the power-play.

Two days after Christmas three Bucks were named as starters for the Southern Conference All-Star Team. Bes, Traylen, and Serge Dube were voted to start for the South in the January 16th All-Star Game.

The Bucks would close out the calendar year with a 6-2 win over the Killer Bees on New Year's Eve. Rane Carnegie scored two goals and handed out an assist to propel the Bucks to the win.

*JANUARY 2008* The Bucks took the Finals Re-match with Colorado 5-3 on January 6th at the LEC. Bes and Adam Rivet each scored twice, with Beech setting aside 27 of 30 Eagles shots to lead the Bucks.

Bes earned his second player of the week honor for the week of January 6th. Bes, led the Bucks to a 3-1 record during the week, with wins over Rio Grande Valley (6-2), Mississippi (5-2), and Colorado (5-3). In Laredo's four games Bes scored four goals, and handed out six assists for 10 points. Bes is the first Bucks player to win more than one CHL player of the week awards in the same season.

The Bucks were well represented at the January 16th All-Star game, as Traylen stopped 13 of 14 shots he faced in net, Bes picked up two assists, and Dube was a plus-two on the night. Traylen stopped 13 of 14 North shots he faced in the first 20 minutes, notching the best save percentage of all six goaltenders that played.

Laredo suffered through their worst losing streak of the season in mid-January, dropping four straight contests. The Bucks fell at home to Bossier-Shreveport 6-2, and lost road games to Oklahoma City (3-1 score), and Austin (2-1 score), before being shutout at home by Corpus Christi 4-0.

Ruskowski reached a milestone on the road in Corpus on January 25th, as he won his 450th career game as a professional head coach. Laredo also snapped their season-long four game losing streak that night with a 4-2 win at the Rayz expense.

*FEBRUARY 2008* On the first night of February the Bucks produced their biggest comeback in team history against Mississippi. Laredo trailed 4-0 in the first period against the Riverkings, but stormed back to win in overtime 5-4, with Adam Rivet notching the game-winner with 1:51 left in the extra session. Laredo trailed 4-2 heading into the third period, until Chris Korchinski and Dube tallied goals in the third to rally the Bucks. John Ceci replaced Traylen in net in the first period, and set aside all 26 shots he faced.

Laredo made a big trade deadline deal on February 11th, as they traded for Alex Goupil from Wichita. Goupil would make a huge impact on the squad, as he tallied 18 points in 16 regular season games (11-7=18). Goupil would score on his first shot as a Buck down in Hidalgo, to lead Laredo to a 4-2 win over the Bees.

Bes would notch his third hat trick of the season in the Bucks 6-3 win in Corpus on February 15th. Bes also added an assist in the win.

The Bucks would clinch their fifth straight Southeast Division crown with a 6-3 win in Corpus on February 22nd. Laredo would score five goals in the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit heading into the final 20 minutes.

Bes would pick up his fourth hat trick of the season February 27th in a 5-3 home win over Corpus.

*MARCH 2008* Rookie Andrew Desjardins would pick up his first professional hat trick in a 5-1 win over Rio Grande Valley on March 7th. Desjardins scored his hat trick goal on a break away with just 2:12 left in the third period.

The Bucks were well represented in the annual Best of the Best Poll announced on March 8th. The Bucks won first place in five of the 45 categories, including Best Coach (Terry Ruskowski), Best Overall Player (Jeff Bes), Smartest Player (Bes), Best Body Checker (Steve Simoes), and Best team Logo. Including the Bucks five-first place wins, they appear in a total of 12 categories.

For the third straight season Ruskowski was voted the league's best coach. Ruskowski received 31 total points (15 first place votes), to beat out Bossier-Shreveport's Scott Muscutt (26 points), and Youngstown's Kevin Kaminski (18 points).

Bes appeared in five different categories this season, including his two first place finishes in the Best Overall Player, and Smartest Player categories. Bes was also voted the league's second best playmaker, second best on the power-play, and third best in face-off's.

On March 10th the Bucks learned that they had four players who were finalists for CHL regular season awards. Bes (MVP), Desjardins (Rookie of the Year), Rivet (Most Outstanding Defenseman), and Traylen (Most Outstanding Goaltender) were named as one of four finalists in each category.

Center Chris Stanley joined the Bucks on March 11th, and he would pay dividends for the remainder of the season. Stanley would play five regular season games and score four goals, and in 11 playoff games he would score seven goals and put up 17 points to lead Laredo in postseason points. Stanley's impact would be immediate, as he would score on his first shot as a Buck in Youngstown on March 14th.

Bes earned another accolade on March 18th, as he was named to the All-CHL team. Bes joins teammate Serge Dube as the only two Bucks players to be named to the All-CHL Team. Dube was on the squad for the 2005-06 campaign.

Laredo would clinch the top seed in the South with an 8-2 home win over Rio Grande Valley on March 21st. Bes (1-2=3) and Dube (0-3=3) each picked up three points to lead the Bucks to their 11th win over the Bees in 12 chances this season. Traylen picked up his 25th win in net as he stopped 19 of 21 Killer Bee attempts.

The next night during the Bucks regular season finale in Rio, Bes would put add his name to another Bucks scoring record, as he became the teams single season leader in goals scored with 46.

Bes would win his second regular season MVP award on March 24th, as he beat out scoring champion Alex Leavitt by an 18-14 vote. Bes finished with 106 points (46-60=106).

The Bucks would open up the playoffs in grand fashion, picking up a 4-2 win over Odessa in game one of the Conference Semi-Finals in front a sell out crowd of 7,987 fans at the LEC. The LEC's new capacity for hockey is 6,500, for the game the Bucks had to take off black tarps off of some sections to accommodate the large crowd. The sellout was the Bucks first at home since March 9th of last season against Colorado.

During the second intermission the Bucks presented two separate checks for $10,00 apiece to the Sacred Heart Children's Home, and the South Texas Food Bank. Fans had the chance to purchase $5 tickets to the game, with all the proceeds going to the two charities.

The Bucks would go on to sweep Odessa in four games, outscoring the ‘Jacks by a combined 20-9 score.

*APRIL 2008*

Laredo would advance to their sixth straight Conference Finals to play Arizona. The Bucks fell in game one at the LEC 6-4, only to win game two 3-1 to head to the desert in a 1-1 series tie. The Bucks would take a 2-1 series lead with a 4-3 overtime win at Tim's Toyota Center. Alex Goupil would notch the game-winner in the extra session.

Laredo would fall in games four and five of the series, losing two one-goal games by 4-3, and 2-1 scores to fall behind in the best of seven series 3-2. Laredo would force a deciding game seven with a 9-2 win at the LEC on April 25th in game six. Korchinski would pick up his first professional hat trick in the win.

The Bucks run towards a third President's Cup title would end the next night in game seven, as Laredo fell to the Sundogs 6-1. The Bucks trailed 2-1 heading into the third period, but gave up three goals in the first 5:46 of the third. For the first time since the 2002-03 season Laredo will not represent the Southern Conference in the President's Cup Finals, ending a four-year reign as the South's top team.

*Bucks 2007-08 Season Notes*

*42-19-3, 87 points, Won Fifth Straight SE Div. Title

*Southern Conference Regular Season Champs

*24-7-1 Home Record, 18-12-2 Road Record

*Tied CHL Record For Most Consecutive Wins To Start A Season (10-0)

*Jeff Bes: CHL MVP, All-CHL Team

*Jeff Bes, Serge Dube, Dustin Traylen Southern Conference All-Stars

*Jeff Bes: Set new Bucks Career goal record (166), Single Season Goal Record (46)

*Made Sixth Straight Southern Conference Finals Appearance *2008-09 Season Tickets On Sale Now!* Season tickets for the 2008-09 season are available right now. You can become a Bucks season ticket holder starting at just $6.50 per game. To order your 2008-09 season tickets call a Bucks ticket representative at 718-BUCK (2825) today.

2008-09 BUCKS SEASON TICKETS! Become a Bucks season ticket holder starting at $6.50 per game! Call a Bucks ticket representative at 718-BUCK (2825)

LISTEN TO BUCKS GAMES LIVE ALL SEASON All 64 of the Bucks regular-season games, plus any additional post-season games can be heard live all-season on Norteno 1490-AM (KLNT), as well as online at laredobucks.com courtesy of sportsjuice. You can also watch all Bucks games online via the CHL Network.

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 Donald Thomson at (956) 523-7711, or dthomson@laredobucks.com, or contact Cindy Cisneros at (956) 523-7723, ccisneros@laredobucks.com.

BUCKS IN THE COMMUNITY To schedule an appearance by a Bucks player, coach, Bucky, or member of the front office staff call Bryan Benway at (956) 718-BUCK (2825) or email him at benway@laredobucks.com.

JOIN THE BUCKS BOOSTER CLUB To join the Laredo Bucks Booster Club contact club president Carlos Garcia at (956)740-8511, or email him at carlosg@modern-laredo.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2008


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