Bees cancel Tuesday's preseason game

October 14, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


Hidalgo, Texas --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced that Tuesday night's preseason game vs. Corpus Christi has been cancelled due to ongoing immigration issues. Tickets for Tuesday's game can be redeemed at the Dodge Arena Box Office on a first-come first-serve basis for Opening Night beginning Monday morning at 10 a.m.

"We're confident that our immigration issues will be sorted out Monday based on the conversations we've had with the government," said Killer Bees General Manager Grant Buckborough. "Opening Weekend is not in jeopardy."

In the meantime, Head Coach Paul Fixter continues to add players to the roster. The Bees signed defenseman Adam Blanchette, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound Berlin, Connecticut, native who joins the Bees after attending training camp with the UHL's Fort Wayne Komets.

Blanchette, 20, split last season between Waterloo (United States Hockey League) and Gatineau (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). In 45 games he collected eight points (2-6-8) and 82 PIM. He spent the previous two seasons in the QMJHL, appearing in 116 games for Moncton and Quebec posting 11 points (2-9-11) and 92 PIM. Prior to his junior career Blanchette played at Avon Old Farms, a highly touted prep school in Avon, Connecticut, as well as for the Connecticut Clippers junior B team.

"Adam had a solid camp with Fort Wayne and played in two preseason games there," said Killer Bees Head Coach Paul Fixter. "He's big and strong in his own end. They have a lot of experienced defensemen in Fort Wayne, so Adam will have an opportunity to come here and show us what he can do."

Fixter explained that while the immigration issues have been trying, there are positives for the players already in camp. "The guys that are here are in tremendous shape because they've been doing double duty," he said. "We did two-a-days the first four days of camp. It's not like we've been taking it easy because everyone's not here yet."

The Killer Bees open the 2006-07 regular season this Friday night at 7:35 p.m. Tickets are available at the Dodge Arena Box Office, online at killerbeehockey.com, and by phone at 866-RIO-TIXX. Tickets can also be purchased at The Boot Jack Valley Wide, Valley Yamaha, Melhart Music Center, Lionel's Western Wear Weslaco, or Lone Star National Bank.



Central Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2006


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