Bucks Add Two More
Published on August 21, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
(8/21/02) Laredo Bucks coach/general manager Terry Ruskowski added two more weapons to the team's arsenal Tuesday with the signing of rookie forwards Tom Kotsopoulos and Eric Wenkus. The Bucks now have a total seven players signed for the inaugural season of professional hockey in Laredo. The season begins October 17 with a road game in Corpus Christi. The first-ever Bucks home games are November 1 and 2 at the Laredo Entertainment Center.
"Both Tom and Eric have the ability to help us tremendously," says Ruskowski. "We went after Tom Kotsopoulos early. His junior coach was my assistant coach in Los Angeles. According to him, Tom skates like an NHL'er, shoots like and NHL'er and scores like an NHL'er. He could be a real find for me.
Kotsopoulos, 21, comes to the Bucks from the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Hockey Association. A Toronto native, Kotsopoulos is a 6-1, 195-pound forward. Kotsopoulos' numbers for Newmarket were staggering: 33 goals and 47 assists for a total of 80 points in just 46 games. Kotsopoulos spent the previous three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sudbury Wolves, where he was a teammate of fellow Bucks' signee T.J. Warkus. In the 2000-2001 season, Kotsopoulos registered 11 goals, 11 assists and 105 penalty minutes in 58 games. The previous year, he had 12 goals and 16 assists in 59 games.
Wenkus is a 24-year old native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The 5-11, 190-pound forward played college hockey for the St. Thomas Tommies. In his senior season, Wenkus served as team captain. In 28 games, Wenkus posted 15 goals and 26 assists for a total of 41 points. He led the Tommies with 10 power-play goals. In his career at St. Thomas, Wenkus racked up 123 points in 85 games played.
"Eric is a true center," says Ruskowski. "He is a very good playmaker, he sees the ice really well and he plays a strong defensive game. That's what I look for in a center-ice man."
Bucks season tickets are still available. Ticket information and a 2002-2003 schedule of games can be found at www.laredobucks.com. The Bucks ticket office can be reached at (956) 718-BUCKS.
Central Hockey League Stories from August 21, 2002
- 'Kings add major sting to blueline - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Gorillas sign john dean - Amarillo Gorillas
- Oilers Sign Dallas Anderson - Tulsa Oilers
- Rookie Blueliners Join Blazers Roster - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Bucks Add Two More - Laredo Bucks
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