Rochester, MI (June 20, 2007) -  The 2006 North American PDL Champion Michigan Bucks are coming home to Saginaw for one last home game.  Originally started in 1996 as the Mid-Michigan Bucks, based out of Saginaw, the United Soccer League (USL) Premier Development League’s (PDL) finest franchise will celebrate last years first championship with a rare home game as part of the Saginaw Youth Soccer tournament on Saturday, June 23rd.  The best part is that admission for everyone is free thanks to Bucks local soccer sponsors, who wanted to make sure that the Champion's return home could be experienced by all soccer fans in Mid Michigan.  The Bucks will take on old rival, the Indiana Invaders as they try to retain their hold on first place in the Great Lakes Division this season.  The Bucks (6-0-3) and Invaders (3-2-2) played to a thrilling 3-3 tie on Memorial Day that sent the Bucks into their record setting seventh US Open Cup tournament.   The match will be played at 8:00 PM at the 14^th Annual Saginaw 7-11 Soccer Classic.  In addition to the top level match, the Bucks will have a very special half time celebration where they will induct three Bucks legends into the Michigan Bucks Hall of Fame. 

Joining Bucks Hall of Famers Paul Snape and Tino Scicluna, will be three individuals that were instrumental in the initial success the Bucks had in the first five years, including hosting two US Open Cup games against Major League Soccer (MLS) teams and a National Championship Final Four.  Being inducted will be Bucks original head coach Steve Burns, player Benji Djeukeng and Bucks former owner and General Manager Jim Duggan (Saginaw resident). 

Burns coached the Bucks from 1996-1999, including taking the team up against Carlos Valderrama and the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer before a sold out crowd of nearly 5,000 at White Pine Stadium on July 12, 1999.  As head coach, Burns took the Bucks to the national finals in each of his first two years before leaving to take the head coaching job with the University of Michigan men’s team.  Djeukeng was a fan favorite of all Saginaw Bucks fans, as he resided there for several summers while leading the Bucks team in 1999.  Djeukeng went on to play professional soccer in the A League (second level in the US system) before retiring and coaching at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.  Duggan retired after the 2005 season, having built the club for the first ten years with brother Dan to become one of the country's all time leading PDL programs in history.  The Bucks have set records in over a dozen categories over the years, including most wins, most playoff appearances and the most success in US Open Cup history at the PDL level.  Both of the Duggans and the Bucks were inducted into the USL Hall of Fame in 2005.  Jim is living with his wife Dr. Stephanie Duggan and three kids in Saginaw Township and all are still very active in the community. 

“This will be a special night for all of us,” said Bucks owner Dan Duggan.  “We are coming home where we have fond memories and great fans that supported us when we first started this team twelve years ago.   It was a sad day when we left Saginaw in 2002, but we knew one day we would come back to share the championship trophy in the place where it all started.  What will really make the night special will be the half time ceremony when these three soccer greats will be rightfully honored for their commitment to not only the Bucks, but soccer in Saginaw and the state of Michigan.  Most people have no idea of the impact these gentlemen have had on soccer in the area over the years.  Without a doubt, the two greatest soccer nights in Michigan (other than the World Cup) came at White Pine Stadium, where we played Tampa Bay to the last minute and the epic overtime game against the Miami Fusion in 2000 when we scored in overtime to win, only to have the goal stolen away by the referee.  Every time I come to Saginaw, someone brings up that game as if it happened only yesterday.  Hopefully we can give you another thriller at part of the Saginaw Youth tournament.”

Admission to Saturday night's match is free to all thanks to some of the Bucks sponsors that teamed up to make this all possible.  Supporting both the Michigan Bucks and soccer throughout the state of Michigan to make this game possible for free are the Oakland University Soccer camps, University of Michigan soccer camps, Michigan State University soccer camps and the Michigan Soccer Association.  The Bucks would like to thank each of these dedicated sponsors for their role this year and ask for your continued support of each of these generous organizations. 

 For more information, visit the team web site at buckssoccer.com.