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Killer Bees Announce NHL Affiliation With Florida

August 31, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) are very proud to announce the first affiliation in team history. For the 2011-12 season, the Killer Bees will be affiliated with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL) and San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL).

"It is very exciting to announce this affiliation agreement. We are ready to help the Panthers and Rampage develop quality players and quality people for their organizations, " said Killer Bees General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. "I am happy to be affiliated with Florida once again and am very excited and anxious to get started. Florida has always been a pleasure to work with and I know Dale Tallon and Mike Santos are doing, and will continue to do, a great job with the Panthers and we are looking forward to being a part of that success."

The Killer Bees have previously had players assigned to them from National Hockey League clubs including Dan Gendur (Nashville Predators) last season but this marks the first full affiliation for the Bees.

"We are pleased to begin this relationship with Rio Grande Valley and have a lot of respect for the job Terry Ruskowski does developing players," said Panthers Assistant GM Mike Santos.

The Panthers are the southernmost NHL team calling Sunrise, Fla. home. The Panthers, set to start their 17th season of play, play at the BankAtlantic Center as part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Florida has one Stanley Cup Finals appearance (1996).

The Rampage is one of four professional sports franchises owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment - the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), the Silver Stars (WNBA) and the Austin Toros (NBA D-League) - and plays its home games at the SS&E operated AT&T Center. The 2011-12 season marks the Rampage's 10th anniversary season in the AHL. In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams with more than 87 percent of today's NHL players being AHL graduates.

The Killer Bees ninth season of play gets underway in October and full and half-season ticket packages are now available by calling the ticket office at 956-843-7825 or for more information visit killerbeehockey.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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