Three Bucks Named All Star Starters

Published on December 28, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, TX- The Central Hockey League announced Monday that three Laredo Bucks have been named to the starting line-up for South Texas in the 2010 CHL All Star Game Presented by Laredo Energy on January 13th at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

Laredo's Darryl Smith (forward), Adam Rivet (defense) and J.P Levasseur (goaltender) will start for South Texas, along with Rio Grande Valley's Jesse Bennefield (forward) and Nathan Ansell (defense), and Corpus Christi's Justin Quenneville (forward).

Smith (second pro season) and Rivet (fifth pro season) are making their second CHL All-Star apperance, while Levasseur (third pro season) will make his first.

"The three Bucks that were chosen to start are very well deserving of the honor," said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski, who will serve as the South Texas Head Coach.

Smith, the reigning CHL Rookie of the Year and All-Star game MVP, has picked up 23 points (12-1123) in 24 games and leads the Bucks in goals with 12. The Thorold, Ontario native has six multi-point games, including three multi-goal games this season, and has scored a point in four of his last five games.

Smith, 5'11, 190 pounds, garnered Rookie of the Year honors last season when he put up 70 points (36-3470), including a CHL-tying 36 goals. Smith has scored 93 points (48-4593) in 84 career CHL games. Smith has been called up to the AHL twice so far in his career, as he played four games for Houston last season and one game for Manitoba this season.

Rivet, a 2007 CHL All-Star, assumed Team Captain duties this season and has put up 16 points (5-1116) in 27 games. The Fort Erie, Ontario native has three multi-point games this season and his third on the Bucks with seven power-play assists.

Rivet, 6'0'', 185 pounds, was a finalist for the 2008 Most Outstanding Defenseman Award. He has etched his name in the Bucks record books, as he is fourth all-time in assists (125), and fifth in games played (278) and goals (72). Rivet was a member of the Bucks 2006 President's Cup Championship team.

Levasseur, the CHL Goaltender of the Month for November, is one of the top netminders in the league with a 10-3-3 record, a 2.31 G.A.A and a.919 sv. %. Levasseur, who is on loan to the Bucks from Anaheim, has allowed just one goal in a game three times this season. Levasseur has been on call-up to the AHL's Springfield Falcons since December 13th.

The 6'0'', 200 pound Levasseur won CHL goaltender of the week honors on November 9th. Levassuer led the Bucks to two one-goal victories against Arizona on November 6th-7th, stopping a total of 54 of 59 shots he faced to earn the weekly league honors.

Levassuer (pronounced LEV-a-sur) was drafted in the seventh round (#197 overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and spent parts of the last three seasons in the AHL.

The Victoriaville, Quebec native has played in 57 career AHL games, posting a combined record of 17-28-5 with the Portland Pirates ('07-08), Iowa Chops ('08-09) and Springfield Falcons (09-10).

The CHL starters will be announced Tuesday, while the South Texas reserves will be announced Wednesday and the CHL reserves will be announced Thursday.

**ABOUT THE **ALL**-**STAR** GAME**

Bucks season ticket holders will receive a FREE ticket to the All-Star Game, while tickets for Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley season ticket holders will receive a FREE Pirata.

All other tickets to the game will be just $15. Call 718-BUCK (2825) to buy yours now.

The night before the game, on Tuesday January 12th the Bucks will host the All-Star Banquet presented by Laredo Energy. This is your chance to meet both the South Texas All-Star team, and the CHL All-Star team.

The Stanley Cup will be at both the banquet and game, and will be available for photos in the concourse. For banquet ticket information, call 718-BUCK(2825).

Laredo becomes the first CHL Franchise to host the All-Star Game twice in the same arena, as the 2005 game was held at the LEC. Oklahoma City has hosted the All-Star Game twice, but in two different venues. The Blazers held the 1999 game at the Myriad, while the 2003 game was at the Ford Center.

The 2005 All-Star Game was won by the North 14-13 in a shootout, in front of 5,500 fans at the LEC. During the 2005 All-Star festivities the Stanley Cup made it's first ever trip to Mexico, as it was taken across the border to Nuevo Laredo.

The Bucks, along with the Central Hockey League, will be making other announcements about the game, such as TV and radio Broadcast plans, and more banquet information in the coming weeks.

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