Laredo Bucks The Laredo Bucks are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League . They play in Laredo , Texas , USA at the Laredo Entertainment Center . History . Arena Ventures , made up of six businessmen , teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state - of - the - art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas . On August 12 , 2002 , Laredo voters approved a tax increase to pay for the new arena , which cost $ 36 . 5 million . The arena is currently managed by SMG Management . After the success the Central Hockey League has had in South Texas in the past years , Laredo was encouraged to bring the first professional sports franchise into the city . The Bucks have proven successful , averaging attendance over 6 , 200 ( 78 % capacity ) in the regular season and nearly 6 , 500 ( 81 % capacity ) in the playoffs . The LEC Arena held 8 , 002 fans from 2002 – 2007 , but was lowered to 6 , 500 starting with the 2007 – 08 season . The Bucks claimed the Ray Miron President ' s Cup ( CHL Championship ) for the 2003 – 2004 and 2005 – 2006 seasons and the Governor ' s Cup ( regular season Championship ) in the 2003 – 2004 season . The Bucks won four straight Southern Conference Championships from 2004 - 2007 , and have Southeast Division Championship for the last five years ( 2004 - 2008 ) . Until August 2007 the Laredo Bucks ' AHL affiliate have always been the San Antonio Rampage . From 2002 – 2005 ( three seasons ) , the Bucks were affiliated with the Florida Panthers ( NHL ) . The Bucks ' NHL affiliate changed to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 2005 – 2006 season . All - Star games . The Bucks also hosted the CHL All - Star game in the 2004 – 2005 season . The Laredo Bucks have sent many players to the Annual Central Hockey League All - Star game . In the 2002 – 2003 season , Laredo sent forwards Chris Grenville , Eric Schneider and defenceman Michel Periard to Oklahoma City to compete in the CHL All - Star game . Chris Grenville captured the hardest shot award at the skills competition . The following season ( 03 – 04 ) , Laredo sent players Patrik Nilson , Serge Dube , Jeff Bes and Brent Cullaton . Cullaton captained the Southern Conference team and captured the fastest skater award , while Nilson won the accuracy shooting award . Coach Terry Ruskowski and his staff coached the Southern Conference because the Bucks had the best winning percentage at the break . In 2005 , Laredo sent another three players : Adam Paiment , Jeremy Symington and Brent Cullaton . The North went on to beat the South 14 – 13 in a shootout . Brent Cullaton won Fastest Skater title for the second time in a row . In 2006 , Coach Ruskowski , forward Jeff Bes , right wing James Hiebert , and defensemen Serge Dube all earned a spot on the all - star team . Jeff Bes won the CHL Southern Conference All - Star MVP in that year for his four goal effort . The 2006 – 07 Bucks All - Stars were Ruskowski , Bobby Chaumont , Chris Korchinski , and Adam Rivet . In the 2007 – 08 season the Bucks had three players voted as starters in the all - star game . Jeff Bes ( 3rd ) , Serge Dube ( 3rd ) , and Dustin Traylen ( 1st ) represented the Bucks . In the 2008 - 09 season in a strange CHL All - Star game the Bucks had two players called to the All - Star game Darryl Smith and Sebastien Centomo , Darryl Smith won the All - Star MVP . The Bucks will host the CHL All - Star game in the 2009 - 10 season this will be the second time that Laredo will host the All - Star game and the 1st time a CHL team will host the event in the same arena twice ( LEC ) . On June 2 , 2009 The Laredo Bucks unveiled the format and logo for the 2010 CHL All Star game . The format will be South Texas ( Laredo Bucks , Corpus Christi IceRays , & Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees ) vs . THE CHL ALL STARS which will be held on January 13th , 2010 . Rosco Era . Coach Ruskowski has coached the Laredo Bucks in all of the franchise history . In 2007 , Ruskowski entered the final year of a four - year contract extension with the Bucks . Ruskowski told the Laredo Morning Times that his tenure was in the hands of Bucks chairman Glenn Hart , owner Julian " Kiki " DeAyala , and team president John Beckelhymer and that he had " full faith " that he will obtain his third contract with the club . Ruskowski ' s optimism paid off , for he was shortly thereafter given a " lifetime contract " as the Bucks ' coach . Team records . Records are as of the conclusion of the 2008 – 2009 season . Individual achievements . Particular players and personnel that have been recognized numerous times by the CHL 2002 – 03 2003 – 04 2004 – 05 2005 – 06 2006 – 07 2007 - 08 2008 - 09