LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Bryan Benway,

LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced at a press conference on Thursday that Team Captain Serge Dube has retired from professional hockey after seven seasons. The announcement was made to the media and a large number of fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

Dube will continue to work in the Bucks Front Office as a Ticket Executive.

The 30-year-old Dube is the franchises All-Time leader in games played with 381, and has two Championship rings with the Bucks.

“Serge Dube will be greatly missed on the ice, he’s one of the big reasons for our success,” said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “Serge was a great leader on and off of the ice, and meant so much to the Bucks and the city of Laredo.”

“It’s the right time to walk away from the game,” Dube said. “I love playing in Laredo, I love the fans, I love the City. I’m excited to still be a part of the organization.”

Dube, who is considered one of the best defensemen in the CHL, was honored with the 2006 CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman award, and is a three-time CHL All-Star (’04, ’06, ‘08).

Dube has also been honored with the CHL Player of the Month award in November 2005, and the CHL Player of the Week award in January of 2004.

In his seven seasons’ in Laredo, Dube is among the all-time franchise leaders in several categories. Besides being the all-time Bucks leader in games played, Dube is fourth all-time in goals scored with 81, second all-time in assists with 245, and second all-time in points with 326. In addition, Dube is tied for fifth all-time in single-season assists, handing out 50 during the Bucks first CHL championship season of 2003-2004. Dube is also tied for sixth all-time with six game-winning goals during the Bucks second CHL championship season of 2005-06.

“That’s the ultimate goal is to win a championship. And to have won two here means a lot to me,” Dube said. “I’ll always remember what it felt like to bring those championships to Laredo.”

In addition to winning two CHL Championships, Dube, an original Buck, helped lead Laredo to four straight Southern Conference Championships (2004-2007), six straight Southern Conference Finals appearances (2003-2008), five straight Southeast Division Championships (2004-2008), and seven straight playoff appearances (2003-2009).

Dube was named Captain at the start of the 2006-07 season after Brent Cullaton left to play in the UHL. During his tenure as captain Dube led the Bucks to the 2007 Southern Conference title, as well as two Southeast Division crowns in 2006-07, and 2007-08. The Bucks were a combined 120-59-13 in his Dube’s three seasons as captain.

The Bucks will name a new Team Captain during training camp.

Dube will continue to work in the Bucks Front Office as a Ticket Sales Executive, a position he has held since June.

“Serge has made a great transition to the business world so far, he’s doing a great job,” Ruskowski said. “He is a natural leader and he’s going to be a leader in the office as well.”

Last season Dube put up 42 points (10-32=42) in 57 games, including five power-play goals and 13 power-play assists. In last seasons playoff series against Odessa Dube scored three points (1-2=3) in six games.

In 2007-08 Dube, who is from Sudbury, Ontario but lives in Laredo with his wife Aileen, was selected to his third CHL All-Star game, as he had another solid year. Dube scored nine goals, handed out 37 assists for 46 points, in 57 games.

During the 2008 playoffs Dube knocked in two goals, with nine assists for 11 points. Six of his nine playoff assists were on the power-play.

In 2006-07 Dube put up 53 points (16-37=53) in 60 games in his first season as Captain. Dube picked up 12 (1-11=12) points in the 2007 postseason, leading Laredo to the Southern Conference Championship.

Dube and the Bucks won their second President’s Cup Title in 2005-06, and he played a large role. Dube scored 55 points (14-41=55) in the regular season, and put up nine points (3-6=9) in the 2006 Playoffs.

Dube began the 2004-05 campaign overseas with the Bracknell Bees, playing in 11 games before returning to Laredo.

Upon returning to the Bucks in 2004-05, Dube struggled with injuries, and missed a portion of the season. When he returned to the line-up on February 23, 2005, the Bucks were struggling with a 23-22-2 record. With Dube back in the line-up the Bucks finished up the regular season an incredible 12-0-1, capturing both the Southeast Division Title, and the Southern Conference Championship, before falling in the President’s Cup Finals.

Dube had his best statistical season in Laredo during the 2003-04 championship season. In 59 games Dube posted a career high 18-goals, with 50 assists, for 68 points, in helping the Bucks to a CHL-best 48-8-8 record- best all-time in the CHL. Dube scored the game-tying goal in game seven of the 2004 President’s Cup Finals, knotting the game at 2-2 nearly seven minutes into the third period. The Bucks would win their first Championship in overtime that night.

In the Bucks inaugural season in 2002-03 Dube, then a rookie, would score 46 points (10-36=46) in the regular season. In the 2003 Playoffs Dube knocked in six points (2-4=6).

*LAREDO BUCKS TEAM CAPTAINS*

-2002-2003: Rob Stanfield

-2003-2006: Brent Cullaton

-2006-2009: Serge Dube

The Bucks will open their eighth season in the Gateway City on October 24th at the LEC, and will host the 2010 CHL All-Star Game January 13th. For ticket information call 718-BUCK (2825).