LEC now the Laredo Energy Arena

From a Laredo Bucks Team Release: www.laredobucks.com

The City of Laredo, Texas, along with the Laredo Bucks officially announced Wednesday that the Laredo Entrainment Center has become the Laredo Energy Arena effective immediately.

The announcement was made to the media and a large number of corporate partners and fans at a press conference at the main entrance of the arena.

Bucks majority owner Glenn Hart is also the President of the Laredo Energy Company. Laredo Energy signed a four year naming rights agreement with options for extension with the City of Laredo. This is the first time in Team History that the building has another name besides the Laredo Entrainment Center

"We know most arenas and stadiums across the country have est. names associated with their facility," said Mayor Raul G. Salinas. "The City of Laredo was waiting for the right corp. partner to be able to bring their company's good name together with our great facility; that is exactly what we have now with Laredo Energy and now, the Laredo Energy Arena. Laredo Energy is a strong, stable company that has est. ties, local support and has demonstrated in faith of our city with their continued community involvement. Additionally, I am also very pleased that the city's beautiful name is still in the new name of the arena; people will still think of Laredo when they think of quality, exciting and affordable entertainment at the Laredo Energy Arena," Salinas Concluded.

The 178,000 SQ. Foot Laredo Energy Arena opened in 2002 and can seat up to 8,000 people for hockey, and up to 10,000 for concerts. It has 14 luxury suites, four meeting rooms and a private club for season ticket holders.

State of the Team

Also on Wednesday Hart Issued a "State of the Bucks" address to those in attendance and spoke about the future of the 8 year old team.

Hart said the Bucks have four years on their lease with the arena and intend to complete the term of the agreement in Laredo, and hopefully for many years to come.

"Our Bucks season ticket holders and corporate partners are the major reasons we have been so successful in the City of Laredo and in the surrounding communities," said Hart. "Just like any other business the Bucks have been hurt by the economy but that won't stop us from continuing to provide great family entertainment for the people of Laredo and the surrounding area."

The Bucks are considered here in Laredo without the help of each and everyone of the residents in this great city," Hart Continued. "I remember back to our championship back in 2004 when we had 8,002 people in the building and another 3,000 people outside watching on big screens. We need your help to win. Let's pack this place like we used to and win our third President's Cup Championship.

About Glenn Hart and Laredo Energy

Glenn Hart went to work for Laredo based Sanchez-O'Brien Oil and Gas in September 1980 and he's been drilling around Laredo ever since. Hart was co-founder of Michael Petroleum in 1983 which was sold to Calpine Natural Gas (Now called Rosetta Resources) in August 2001.

He was co-founder of Laredo Energy in September 2001. Michael Petroleum and Laredo Energy have head Oil & Gas leases on over 500,000 acres in Webb & Zapata counties through their combined history. Laredo Energy holds in excess of 200,000 arces of oil & gas leases in Webb, Zapata and Lasalle Counties.

Michael Petroleum and Laredo Energy have drilled acquired nearly 1,000 wells in Webb and Zapata Counties through their combined history.

Laredo Energy is currently actively leasing property and drilling wells in Webb & Lasalle Counties. Laredo Energy currently maintains an office in Zapata, Texas and Laredo, Texas.

South Texas uses strong Team Game to win All Star Game 9-4

After a slow start for the South Texas Team comeback with 7 answered goals to just crush the CHL All Stars to win it on home soil in front of a energetic crowd down at the Laredo Entrainment Center in front of nearly 4,000 fans in attendance.

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

The South Texas Squad was led by the Sherwood/TPS most Valuable player, rookie forward Sean Muncy from RGV who finished the game with 2 goals and 2 assists leading all players with 4 points. The CHL All Star player that earned the their MVP was Odessa Jackalopes goaltender Joel Martin who stopped 27 of 28 shots in the first period and helped the CHL Team go into the 1st intermission with a 2-1 lead.

The game featured a team of South Texas Players (From the Laredo Bucks, RGV Killer Bees and the Corpus Christi Icerayz) against a team from the rest of the league.

The star of the early going was Martin who leads the CHL with a 2.26 GAA and it showed why last night. He made three huge saves in the games first 4 minutes and then at the 14:50 mark, robbed hometown hero's Jeff Bes and Darryl Smith on back to back straight shots. The South Texas Team registered 11 of the game's first 12 shots.

It was the 13th shot of the however that struck gold as the Colorado Eagles Connection gave the CHL a 1-0 lead. Defensemen Aaron Schneekloth scored the goal, as he drove to the net and teammate Riley Nelson fed him for his first All Star Goal and fifth All Star Point in his 4th career CHL All Star Game. Nelson and Kevin Ulanski drew the assists at the 6:09 mark of the 1st period.

The CHL made it 2-0 on a laser shot from Arizona Sundogs defensemen Jon Landry, playing in his first career All Star Game, that RGV Goalie Andy Franck high on the glove side. For Franck, it was his third straight All Star Game (a league record). Allen's two all stars, Bruce Graham and Justin Bowers earned the assists at the 8:05 mark of the game.

Martin seemed invincible until there was a minute and a half in the 1st period left in the period where he turned away 25 shots until Darryl Smith (Laredo) beat him just under the crossbar and made it 2-1 CHL heading into the 1st intermission. Assisting on the goal was Corpus Christi teammates Justin Quenneville and Kyle Peto on the goal.

The score ended 2-1 after 1 with Martin Stealing the show early on in the game, some of which were great acrobatic saves getting fans out of the seats. The 27 saves were a CHL Record by South Texas set a CHL/WPHL Record since the merger.

South Texas tied the game early on in the 2nd period when Corpus Christi's Jereme Tendler found a tiny opening top shelf beating Bossier-Shreveport's Ken Carroll making the score 2-2. Ryan Garbutt drew the lone assist on the goal at 2 minutes into the 2nd period.

Shortly thereafter, the South Texas Team took the lead thanks to a nifty play by Evan Schwabe tuck a shot under and over Ken Carroll that eventually went off an opponent stick and across the goal line. Peto earned the assist for his 2nd point of the night.

Franck left the game at the midway point of the game after stopping 14 of 16 shots and sitting in line for the win midway through the game.

Before the end of the 2nd period, RGV's Sean Muncy scored his first of two on the night, assisted by Peto and Quenneville for their 2nd assists of the night, at the 18:33 mark of the 2nd, South Texas took a 4-2 lead going into the 2nd intermission.

BOS's Ken Carroll stopped 13 of 16 shots in the 2nd period.

Then in the 3rd period, the flood gates opened for South Texas in the final frame where a total 7 goals were scored in the game. Muncy got the scoring going and the eventually game winner just 1:21 into the 3rd period with Grant Gockner-Zoller made it 5-2. That assists was the first of 3 points in the period for the Killer Bees Forward.

South Texas started stretching the lead midway through the 3rd period as a one timer from Jesse Bennefield made the score 6-2 with Gockner-Zoller scoring his 2nd assists.

Garbutt got into the goal scoring with a goal at 11:10 mark as the blowout was on. Quenneville and Muncy drew the assists on the goal that made it 7-2 South Texas. The interesting thing about Garbutt's goal that it came on the games only power play from T.J. Craig who had the only penalty of the game.

The teams exchanged goals as the game wound down with Craig and Jeff Christian of the Missouri Mavericks scoring goals for the CHL and Laredo's Jeff Bes and Grant Gockner-Zoller scoring for South Texas.

Kevin Nastiuk of the Corpus Christi Icerayz finished his half game with 19 saves on 21 shots and Rapid City's Danny Battochio finished his period of play turning aside 14 of 19 shots.

Peto (0G 3A), Quenneville (0G 3A) and Gockner-Zoller (1G 2A) all finished the game with 3 points.

Just like the final score, the SOG reflected the game as South Texas out shot the CHL 63-37.

Boxscore: CHL All Stars 4 South Texas All Stars 9 (2-1, 0-3, 2-5)
www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1200049&seasonid=5107

Twitter Updates during Central Hockey League All Star Game

Look for Twitter updates during tonight's Central Hockey League All Star Game as the game will take place from the Laredo Entrainment Center in Laredo Texas. This year's format has the South Texas All Stars which is a team comprising of the Corpus Christi Icerayz, Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees against a team from the rest of the league.

Tonight's game will start at 7:00 PM with a pre game festivities including a special roster intros and a ceremonial puck dropping by special guests. As for tonight's Captains, Jeff Bes will captain the South Texas Team while Colorado's Riley Nelson will head the CHL All Star Team. Look for updates through out the game with a recap later in the week.

My Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/tanman9

Central Hockey League: South Texas Starters

This year, the Central Hockey League All Star Game will be at the Laredo Entrainment Center in Laredo as the format will be South Texas teams comprised of the Corpus Christi Icerayz, Laredo Bucks and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

This year's game will be at the Laredo Entrainment Center as the 3 teams are looking at a penitently Playoff Series in the Southern Conference Play In Round as the Laredo Bucks sit in 4th with 32 points, while the Killer Bees are just 1 point back in the 5th and final playoff spot. As for the Corpus Christi Icerayz, they sit in 7th place with 24 points who sit 7 points back of the 5th Place Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

For the Laredo Bucks, they have 3 starters as goaltender J.P. Levasseur who's making his 1st All Star Appearance while fellow teammates Darryl Smith and Adam Rivet will both be making their 2nd All Star Appearance at this level. The Bucks are also hosting the All Star Game for the first time in their history as the Bucks also look to get back to the playoffs after getting ousted by the Odessa Jackalopes last year in the Southern Conference Semifinals.

Rio Grande Valley gets 2 starters as Jesse Bennefield is among the league leaders in scoring with 38 points (17G 21A) which sits him at 6th on the league scoring list. Joining him will be Defensemen Nathan Ansell who's in the thick of the league scoring lead from defensemen with 22 points (Including 19 assists) who's 2nd in league among defensemen.

Rounding out the field is Corpus Christi Icerayz forward Justin Quenneville who's leading the team with 22 points (11G 11A) which despite being in 7th place in the Southern Conference as the Icerayz look to turn around their season in the 2nd half of the season.

Team Starting Line Up. It will have the Pos., The Player, Team and how many times they have been All Stars at this level.

G: J.P. Levasseur (Laredo Bucks) 1st

D: Adam Rivet (Laredo Bucks) 2nd

D: Nathan Ansell (Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees) 1st

F: Jesse Bennefield (Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees) 1st

F: Justin Quenneville (Corpus Christi Icerayz) 2nd

F: Darryl Smith (Laredo Bucks) 2nd