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CHL goalie joins U.S. Army Reserve

June 4, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


HIDALGO, TEXAS --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced that David Lemanowicz (luh-MAN-oh-vitch), the team's goaltender and player/assistant coach during the 2007-08 season, has enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Lemanowicz, a 32-year-old Vancouver native, recently announced his retirement from the game as a player. He has been working in the team's front office in a Team Ambassador/New Business Development role.

The former Florida Panthers draft pick (9th Round, 1995) will leave for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. within the next month. When completed, he will attend Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at the Civil Affairs School at Fort Bragg, N.C. He then plans to pursue his Master's Degree in History through the Army ROTC program at the University of Texas - Pan American.

Upon finishing his degree, Lemanowicz will be a commissioned 2nd Lt. Officer (Civil Affairs) in the U.S. Army Reserve and be attached to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, led by Col. Christopher Rivers, in San Antonio.

"This is an opportunity for me to pursue my education while also giving back to the country I call home," explained Lemanowicz. "It will take about two years for me to finish my masters at UTPA. The Army is supportive of me continuing to play hockey should the need arise during the season."

Lemanowicz began his pro career in 1996, spending most of the season with the American Hockey League's Carolina Monarchs. After playing pro for three seasons, he retired from the game to pursue an undergraduate degree in International Relations at the University of Toronto.

"I got frustrated with the pro hockey world," he explained. "My expectations were too high for what my career would be like. I'd always wanted to go to school and I lost interest in being a pro. I wasn't thinking break, I was thinking that my career was over and I was fine with that." He played for the University's hockey team for two seasons and then was an assistant coach during his final two years of school.

During the spring of 2004, Lemanowicz served as a practice goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs. "Ed Belfour had a bad back and they needed a local practice goalie," said Lemanowicz. "They called the head coach at the University of Toronto and he recommended me. I ended up practicing with the Leafs for two months."

By chance, the coach (Doug Shedden) of the St. John's Maple Leafs - at the time Toronto's American Hockey League affiliate - saw Lemanowicz on the ice and convinced him to return to the pro game. Shedden previously coached the Memphis Riverkings in the Central Hockey League and steered Lemanowicz there for the 2004-05 season.

He then moved on to the Laredo Bucks in 2005-06 and helped the team win the CHL's President's Cup. After spending part of the 2006-07 season playing in Poland, he returned to North America and eventually signed with the Killer Bees for the 2007-08 campaign.

"We're extremely proud of Dave and give him our full support," said Killer Bees Owner/President Troy Nelson. "He has been a great ambassador for the team and has represented us well. His decision to join the military speaks to his character."

Season tickets for the Killer Bees are available now by calling 956-843-PUCK (7825). The 2008-09 schedule is expected to be released in July.

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