City Hidalgo, Texas Conference Berry Home arena State Farm Arena Arena State Farm Arena Captain Aaron Lee Color Black, Teal, Gold | League Central Hockey League Operated 2003-2012 Colors Black, Teal, Gold Head coach Terry Ruskowski Founded 2003 | |
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Location Hidalgo, Texas, United States Affiliates Florida Panthers, San Antonio Rampage | ||
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.
Contents
History
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. 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.
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.
Save Percentage (Top 5 Goalies)
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