Bucks to Host 2010 All-Star Game

The headline pretty much says it all, but here is the text of Bryan Benway's press release due to my inability to hyperlink right now:

The Laredo Bucks, along with the Central Hockey League, announced Monday that the franchise has been named the host of the 2010 CHL All Star Game at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

The Bucks will hold a press conference in the coming weeks to announce more information on the game, including the date, format, and to unveil the Official All-Star Game Logo.

“The Bucks are one of the cornerstone franchises’ in the CHL and we are extremely pleased for the city of Laredo and South Texas in awarding them this game,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “The Bucks hosted one of the most successful All-Star games in CHL history and we are excited to see the Bucks organization make this game a more memorable all-star experience for all CHL fans.”

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to once again have a chance to showcase our city, our fans, our corporate partners, our arena, and our organization by hosting the 2010 CHL All Star Game”, said Bucks Majority Owner Glenn Hart. “The quality of the response of Laredoans, and the first class job of our staff in hosting the 2005 event were definitely factors in Laredo once again being chosen to host the event”

“We are very excited to host the All-Star game again next season”, said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “This game will not only showcase the best that the CHL has to offer, it will be played in front of the best fans in the league”.

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.


I am admittedly surprised by this announcement because most of what I've heard about the 2005 game deals with shootings and other scares, but I guess the league is willing to look past the bad stuff.

I'll give Coach Ruskowski a call later to get some fresh quotes and find out some more about this decision.

Wonder if this'll be done in the same format as this year...