Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (CHL)

For the defunct NAHL team of the same name, see Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (NAHL). For the USACHL team of the same name, see Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (USACHL).
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
CityHidalgo, Texas
LeagueCentral Hockey League
ConferenceBerry
Operated2003-2012
Home arenaState Farm Arena
ColorsBlack, teal, gold
Owner(s)Hidalgo Sports, LLC
General managerTerry Ruskowski
Head coachTerry Ruskowski
CaptainAaron Lee
Media102.1-FM KBUC with Keith Lavon
AffiliatesFormerly
Florida Panthers (NHL)
San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Franchise history
2003–2012Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Championships
Regular season titlesNone
Division titlesNone
Conference titlesNone
Ray Miron President's CupNone

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in the Central Hockey League. The team was based in the Rio Grande Valley in Hidalgo, Texas, just south of McAllen, and played their home games at State Farm Arena.

History

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The team was a member of the Central Hockey League from 2003–2012, and two time CHL franchise of the year (2003–04 and 2008–09). Billy Newson, formerly of the Northeastern University Huskies, is the franchise's leader in goals (90), assists (102) and points (192), while Ryan Shmyr is the career leader in games played and penalty minutes. On June 28, 2011, Terry Ruskowski became the coach of the Killer Bees. He had formerly been the initial coach of the rival Laredo Bucks. Ruskowski had a two-year contract with the Bees.[1] While in the CHL, the Killer Bees were affiliated with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League and the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

On June 20, 2012, multiple sources confirmed that the Killer Bees would not play in the 2012–13 season and ceased operations due to increased travel costs after the folding of the other Texas CHL teams in Austin, Corpus Christi and Laredo.[2]

After a season without a team, the owners of the Wenatchee Wild franchise in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), a Tier II junior A hockey league, relocated the team to Hidalgo, Texas, and took on the identity of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.[3] The team eventually relocated to Pennsylvania after only two seasons. In 2018, another junior level Killer Bees was announced as part of the USA Central Hockey League starting in October 2018, but the league folded after six weeks of operation.[4]

Team record

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Season Conference Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pct GF GA PIM Coach Results
2003-04 Southern Southeast 64 32 24 0 8 72 0.563 165 162 1263 Tracy Egeland Lost in Round 1
2004-05 Southern Southeast 60 19 38 1 2 41 0.342 149 221 1338 Tracy Egeland Out of Playoffs
2005-06 Southern Southeast 64 33 25 3 3 72 0.563 204 183 1165 Tracy Egeland Lost in Round 1
2006-07 Southern Southeast 64 28 28 4 4 64 0.500 185 203 1606 Paul Fixter Lost in Round 1
2007-08 Southern Southeast 64 16 41 3 4 39 0.305 171 278 1478 Paul Fixter Out of Playoffs
2008-09 Southern Southeast 64 35 24 3 2 73* 0.586 221 198 1210 Chris Brooks Lost in Round 2
2009-10 Southern 64 27 27 2 8 64 0.500 193 228 1059 Chris Brooks Out of Playoffs
2010-11 Berry 66 25 35 3 3 56 0.424 194 232 1244 Chris Brooks Lost in Round 1
2011-12 Berry 66 32 27 2 5 71 0.538 208 200 1020 Terry Ruskowski Lost in Round 1

Retired numbers

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Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees retired numbers
No. Player Position Career
7 Sean Gillam D 2003-2006

Franchise leaders

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Games Played (Top 5)

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PLAYER GP G A P PIM SEASONS YRS
Aaron Lee 255 97 91 188 235 2008–2012 4
Ryan Shmyr 223 38 35 73 856 2003–2009 4
Billy Newson 221 90 102 192 301 2003–2007 4
Zak McClellan 184 47 80 127 122 2008–2011 3
Darcy Smith 183 6 35 41 345 2003–2006 3

Goals (Top 5)

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PLAYER GP G A P PIM SEASONS YRS
Aaron Lee 255 97 91 188 235 2008–2012 4
Billy Newson 221 90 102 192 301 2003–2007 4
Daymen Rycroft 169 63 75 138 260 2004–2010 3
Jesse Bennefield 114 59 71 130 137 2008–2010 2
Rob VolteraTied 127 53 68 121 312 2006–2009 3
Matic KraljTied 180 53 74 127 249 2003–2006 3

Assists (Top 5)

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Player GP G A P PIM SEASONS YRS
Billy Newson 221 90 102 192 301 2003–2007 4
Aaron Lee 255 97 91 188 235 2008–2012 4
Zak McClellan 184 47 80 127 122 2008–2011 3
Dennis Maxwell 139 37 79 116 359 2006–2009 3
Daymen Rycroft 169 63 75 138 260 2004–2010 3

Points (Top 5)

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PLAYER GP G A P PIM SEASONS YRS
Billy Newson 221 90 102 192 301 2003–2007 4
Aaron Lee 255 97 91 188 235 2008–2012 4
Daymen Rycroft 169 63 75 138 260 2004–2010 3
Jesse Bennefield 114 59 71 130 137 2008–2010 2
Matic KraljTied 180 53 74 127 249 2003–2006 3
Zak McClellanTied 184 47 80 127 122 2008–2011 3

Penalty Minutes (Top 5)

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PLAYER GP G A P PIM SEASONS YRS
Ryan Shmyr 223 38 35 73 856 2003–2009 4
Dennis Maxwell 139 37 79 116 359 2006–2009 3
Darcy Smith 183 6 35 41 345 2003–2006 3
Brett Clouthier 108 12 13 25 320 2009–2011 2
Rob Voltera 127 53 68 121 312 2006–2009 3

Games Played (Top 5 Goalies)

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Player GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV% SEASONS YRS
Jeff Levy 93 5408 43 41 6 6 236 2.62 2377 0.910 2003–2005 2
Wylie Rogers 86 4775 40 29 11 1 244 3.00 2382 0.910 2008–2012 3
Jeff Van Nynatten 50 2678 15 21 6 1 149 3.34 1372 0.902 2006–2008 2
Juliano Pagliero 49 2785 21 23 3 3 151 3.25 1376 0.901 2010–2011 1
Evan Lindsay 48 2813 25 18 4 3 117 2.50 1376 0.922 2005–2006 1

Wins (Top 5 Goalies)

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Player GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV% SEASONS YRS
Jeff Levy 93 5408 43 41 6 6 236 2.62 2377 0.910 2003–2005 2
Wylie Rogers 86 4775 40 29 11 1 244 3.00 2382 0.910 2008–2012 3
Evan Lindsay 48 2813 25 18 4 3 117 2.50 1376 0.922 2005–2006 1
Juliano Pagliero 49 2785 21 23 3 3 151 3.25 1376 0.901 2010–2011 1
Andy Frank 47 2722 18 18 7 1 148 3.26 1472 0.909 2009–2010 1

Shutouts (Top 5 Goalies)

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Player GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV% SEASONS YRS
Jeff Levy 93 5408 43 41 6 6 236 2.62 2377 0.910 2003–2005 2
Jacque Vezina 38 2090 8 21 5 4 121 3.47 910 0.883 2003–2005 2
Jeremy Symington 35 1944 15 15 4 3 101 3.12 1336 0.902 2007–2008 1
Evan Lindsay 48 2813 25 18 4 3 117 2.50 1376 0.922 2005–2006 1
Juliano Pagliero 49 2785 21 23 3 3 151 3.25 1376 0.901 2010–2011 1

Goals Against Average (Top 5 Goalies)

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Player GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV% SEASONS YRS
Evan Lindsay 48 2813 25 18 4 3 117 2.50 1376 0.922 2005–2006 1
Jeff Levy 93 5408 43 41 6 6 236 2.62 2377 0.910 2003–2005 2
John Murray 36 1959 16 48 0 3 87 2.66 982 0.919 2011-2012 1
Christian Boucher 37 1971 17 14 7 2 95 2.89 1077 0.919 2008–2009 1
Wylie Rogers 86 4775 40 29 11 1 244 3.00 2382 0.910 2008–2012 3

Save Percentage (Top 5 Goalies)

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Player GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV% SEASONS YRS
Evan Lindsay 48 2813 25 18 4 3 117 2.50 1376 0.922 2005–2006 1
John Murray 36 1959 16 48 0 3 87 2.66 982 0.919 2011-2012 1
Christian Boucher 37 1971 17 14 7 2 95 2.89 1077 0.919 2008–2009 1
Jeff Levy 93 5408 43 41 6 6 236 2.62 2377 0.910 2003–2005 2
Wylie Rogers 86 4775 40 29 11 1 244 3.00 2382 0.910 2008–2012 3

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; P = Points; PIM=Penalties in minutes; MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV = Saves; SV% = Save percentage; SEASONS = What seasons were played with the Bees; YRS = Number of years with the Bees; * = The CHL penalized the Killer Bees by removing two points

Notable players

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Ruskowski introduced as Bees coach," Laredo Morning Times, June 29, 2011, p. B1
  2. ^ "Killer Bees hockey team suspends operations amid league woes". Valley Central. June 20, 2012. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  3. ^ Kyrias, Alex (May 14, 2013). "Wenatchee Wild to relocate NAHL membership to Hidalgo, Texas". Junior Hockey News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Killer Bees, ice hockey to return to Rio Grande Valley in 2018". The Monitor. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018. [dead link‍]
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