The Laredo Bucks were an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League . The Bucks played in Laredo , Texas , United States at the Laredo Energy Arena , formerly known as the Laredo Entertainment Center. On May 1, 2012, the management, citing declining attendance and revenue reversals, announced that the team would suspend operations for the following season, with hopes of returning or relocating the team. On August 1, it was announced that the Laredo Bucks were sold and moved to St. Charles, Missouri and would be renamed the St. Charles Chill .
17-653: 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 was managed by SMG . After the success the Central Hockey League has had in South Texas in the previous years, Laredo was encouraged to bring
34-743: A new company called ASM Global. St. Charles Chill The St. Charles Chill was a minor league ice hockey team and member of the Central Hockey League that began play during the 2013–14 season on October 19, 2013 as the affiliate of the National Hockey League 's St. Louis Blues and the American Hockey League 's Chicago Wolves . Based in St. Charles, Missouri , the Chill played its home games at
51-656: The Family Arena . The Chill was the second hockey team to call St. Charles home following the Missouri River Otters , which played in the United Hockey League from 1999 until folding in 2006. On August 1, 2012, the CHL announced that the former Laredo Bucks franchise had been transferred to new ownership headed by Gustavo Hernandez, Alfonso Arguindegui and Glenn Hart, with plans to relocate
68-742: The Florida Panthers ( National Hockey League ). The Bucks' NHL affiliate changed to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 2005–06 season. The Bucks also hosted the CHL All-Star game in the 2004–05 season. The Bucks sent several players to the Annual Central Hockey League All-Star Game throughout their history. In the 2002–03 season, Laredo sent forwards Chris Grenville, Eric Schneider , and defenceman Michel Periard to Oklahoma City to compete in
85-602: The Louisiana Superdome . It was one of the largest property management corporations in the world. SMG was a joint venture in general partnership form with two equal principals, The Hyatt Hotel Company and Aramark Corporation . SMG was bought by American Capital in 2007 for US$ 631 million, and American Capital was sold to Ares Management in January 2017. Ares Management sold SMG to Onex Corporation in 2017. In October 2019, SMG and AEG Facilities merged to make
102-503: 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 the 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
119-631: The Bucks had two players called to the All-Star Game: Darryl Smith and Sébastien Centomo , with Smith winning the All-Star Game MVP. The Bucks hosted the CHL All-Star Game in the 2009–10 season for the second time and the first time a CHL team would host the event in the same arena twice (LEC). The format was South Texas (Laredo Bucks, Corpus Christi IceRays , and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees ) against
136-495: The CHL All-Star Game. Chris Grenville captured the hardest shot award at the skills competition. The following season (2003–04), 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
153-737: The CHL All-Stars and was held on January 13, 2010. Coach Terry "Rosco" Ruskowski coached the Laredo Bucks in all of its franchise history except for the last season, 2011–12, when the team disbanded. 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
170-533: The Governor's Cup (regular season championship) in the 2003–04 season. The Bucks won four straight Southern Conference Championships from 2004 to 2007, and Southeast Division Championship for the five seasons (2004 to 2008). Until August 2007, the Laredo Bucks' AHL affiliate was the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League . From 2002 to 2005 (three seasons), the Bucks were affiliated with
187-620: 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 (third), Serge Dube (third), and Dustin Traylen (first) represented the Bucks. In the 2008–09 season ,
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#1732787967101204-405: The club. Ruskowski's optimism paid off, for he was shortly thereafter given a "lifetime contract" as the Bucks' coach. He resigned four years later amid declining revenues for the team. On May 1, 2012, minority owner Glenn Hart announced that due to declining attendance, the Laredo Bucks would go dormant while still maintaining a license in the Central Hockey League. However, their franchise license
221-608: The conclusion of the 2008–2009 season. 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 SMG (property management) SMG , formerly Spectacor Management Group , was an American worldwide venue management group headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania , that specialized in managing publicly owned facilities. It began their operation in 1977 with management of
238-490: The first professional sports franchise into the city. The Bucks were 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 to 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 2003–04 and 2005–06 seasons and
255-561: The team to St. Charles, taking up the "St. Charles Chill" name. The Chill was expected to form strong rivalries with other nearby CHL teams, in particular the Quad City Mallards , Bloomington Blaze , and in-state rivals the Missouri Mavericks . On September 17, 2012, the Chill announced that former St. Louis Blues player Jamie Rivers would serve as the team's first head coach. Patrick Armstrong served as
272-502: The team's Executive VP, handling the day-to-day operations of the club. Bart Hull , brother of former St. Louis Blues player Brett Hull , was named Vice President of Business Operations (a title his brother holds with NHL affiliate St. Louis Blues). On October 17, 2013, the Chill announced that it would be the CHL affiliate of the National Hockey League 's St. Louis Blues and the American Hockey League 's Chicago Wolves . Tony Patricio of KPNT-FM 105.7's "The Point" served as host for
289-551: Was purchased on August 1 and began to play as the St. Charles Chill in the 2013–14 season. The CHL itself would fold in 2014. In 2018, a new ownership group obtained the rights to the Bucks' name for a junior hockey team . The new team was a charter member of the USA Central Hockey League (USACHL) that began play in October 2018 before the entire league folded less than two months later. Records are as of
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