Viva Ruskowski: Bucks Ink Coach To Lifetime Contract
Published on September 5, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release
LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that they have re-signed head coach/GM Terry Ruskowski to a lifetime contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The announcement was made to the media and a large number of fans at a star-studded press conference at the Laredo National Banks Main Office Building in downtown Laredo.Those in attendance included Ruskowski, Bucks owner/chairman Glenn Hart, Bucks owner/CEO Julian "Kiki" De Ayala, and Bucks President John Beckelhymer.
Ruskowski, arguably the most popular sports figure ever in Laredo, can now coach the team for as long as he wants.
"This is a tremendous honor. I want to thank our ownership, Glen Hart, Kiki De Ayala, the rest of the ownership group, and John Beckelhymer for having so much faith and trust in me to do the job", said Ruskowski. "I want to thank all my players I've had here for working so hard to reach our goals".
"Terry was the only person I wanted to coach this team, and now he can coach here forever if he wants to.", said Bucks Chairman Glenn Hart. "Terry and I used to work with each other when he was the coach and I was the owner of the Houston Aeros, I knew back then that he was an outstanding coach, and I am very proud to sign him to a lifetime contract."
In his five years as the Bucks ice general, Ruskowski has taken the team to unprecedented heights never before seen on the U.S/Mexican border. During his tenure the Bucks have qualified for the postseason all five years, won two CHL President's Cup Championships, one CHL Governor's Cup Regular Season Championship, four straight Southern Conference Championships, four straight Southeast Division Championships, and a regular season record of 209-79-28, including a 122-25-11 mark on home ice. He is the third longest tenured coach in the CHL, only Oklahoma City's Doug Sauter (entering 13th season), and Bossier-Shreveport's Scott Muscutt (entering 8th season) have been with their respective teams longer than Ruskowski.
"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", said Ruskowski, "I want those people to be proud of me, and I never want to let them down."
Ruskowski, who was voted CHL coach of the year in 2005-06, has recruited and coached one CHL MVP (Jeff Bes 2003-04), two CHL playoff MVP's (David Guerrera in '04, Bes in '06), one CHL rookie of the year (Guerrera in '03-'04), two CHL most outstanding defensemen (Michael Periard in '02-'03, Serge Dube in '05-'06), two CHL All-Rookie Team Selections (Dov Grumet-Morris, Adam Rivet in '05'-'06), 13 CHL All-Stars, and two All-Star game MVP's (Chris Grenville 2003, Bes 2006). Ruskowski has also been a head coach in three CHL all-star games. In addition to being the 2005-06 CHL coach of the year, Ruskowski has been voted the Best Coach in the CHL Best of the Best poll the last two seasons.
"Terry is loved here in Laredo, he has done a tremendous job here, this is a great day for the team, and the city of Laredo." Hart said.
The Bucks followed a tremendous debut 2002-03 CHL season, by going several steps better in 2003-04. A CHL best 48-8-8 regular season mark, a CHL single season record .813 winning percentage, a CHL record 21-game home winning streak, the Governor's Cup signifying the best regular season record in the CHL, and in the playoffs the 2003-04 President's Cup title, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. It was the first championship as a head coach for Ruskowski, who finished second in the 2003-04 CHL Coach of the Year balloting in the closest race in league history. In the 2004-05 season the Bucks closed the season 12-0-1 to capture the Southern Conference regular season title and post a 35-22-3 record. Laredo then advanced to the President's Cup Finals for the second consecutive season. In 2005-06 the Bucks went a Southern Conference best 43-15-6. Ruskowski was selected as the Best Coach in the CHL Best of the Best Poll, and also as the 2005-06 CHL Coach of the Year. The Bucks went 12-4 in the playoffs and captured the 2005-2006 CHL President's Cup title. The 2006-07 season saw the Bucks finish 42-17-5, en route to winning their fourth straight division title, and their fourth straight Southern Conference title. Ruskowski was voted Best Coach in the CHL Best of the Best Poll for the second straight season.
Ruskowski has been the first head coach for four expansion teams. Still, he has compiled a tremendous winning record of 423-293-67, including 209-79-28 with the Bucks.
Ruskowski played fifteen years in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association. In ten of those fifteen seasons, he wore the "C" as captain. Among his teammates were legends Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita and Mario Lemieux. In the WHA, Ruskowski won AVCO Cup championships with Houston and Winnipeg. In the NHL, he played in Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Minnesota, finishing with 426 points and 1,356 penalty minutes in 630 NHL games.
The Bucks, who are preparing for their sixth CHL season, open training camp October 8th. Laredo will open the season with a three-game road trip starting October 19th in New Mexico. The home opener is October 26th against division foe Corpus Christi. Single game tickets go on sale soon. For ticket information call 718-BUCK.
Central Hockey League Stories from September 5, 2007
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