
Killer Bees Weekly
October 25, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release
LOOKS TOO FAMILIAR
The Bees were one of three teams to partake in just one regular season game during the Central Hockey League âs opening weekend, and the Bees opened up the regular season Saturday night in Austin with a 5-2 loss. It is the second consecutive season the Bees opened up the season with a road loss in a one-game weekend during the CHL's opening weekend. It is also the second consecutive season the Bees have lost the first game of the season series match-up with Austin. The Killer Bees lost their season opener in San Angelo 3-1 last season and lost their first game against Austin 4-3 in Austin. Rio Grande Valley is hoping for a different result from their home opener this Friday night against Laredo. Corpus Christi ruined the Bees home opener 5-4 in a shootout last season. The only thing the Bees might not mind is a repeat of their week two play last season, which they went 2-0-0 and outscored their opponents 6-1.
THIS WEEK'S "INSIDE THE NUMBERS"
2 - Defensemen - Both of the Bees goals this season have been scored by defensemen.
2 for 6 - Austin Power Play - Austin was 3 for 58 last season against the Bees on the power play, but tallied 2 goals in the contest Saturday night.
17 - Shots - The Bees out-shot the Austin Ice Bats 17-4 in the first period of play.
31:07 - Shutout Sequence - Bees goaltender Jacque Vezina was in net 29:29 last season against Austin and never allowed a goal or took a decision. He allowed his first goal to a Bat 1:38 into the game, ending the shutout sequence. He also received the loss for his first decision against Austin.
GONE-SKOV
A week ago, Matt and Anthony Donskov were a pair of brothers battling to be the first set of brothers to suit up for the Killer Bees in regular season action. Matt Donskov, a first year rookie out of SUNY-Cortland, was the final player waived from the Bees training camp roster. His brother Anthony made the roster, but today he announced his retirement and has been placed on waivers. The 26 year-old former CHL "Man of the Year" was an inactive member Saturday, as he nursed an injured groin from the Oct. 15th exhibition game against New Mexico. Anthony was looking to return to the professional level after setting out for medical reasons last season.
TEE EM' UP
The Killer Bee Foundation, a 501(c)3 non profit organization that contributed over $52,000 to numerous non-profit organizations in the Rio Grande Valley, hosted the second annual "Slap Shots & Tee Shots Golf Tournament" Monday at The Club at Cimarron. 31 teams battled for the lowest score in the sun and breeze, and the team of Zac Buentello, Ernest Ramon, Carlos Torres and Killer Bees defenseman Jason Tessier came out victorious with a winning score of -12 (twelve-under par).
BEE OF THE WEEK
This week's "Bee of the Week" recipient, for their role in the previous week's game, goes to Bees defenseman Derek Holland. The Brandon, Manitoba native tallied the first Killer Bees goal of the season in the opening period of Saturday's game in Austin. It was Holland's first goal of the 2004 calendar year. The three-time all-star missed most of the second half of last season in Lubbock due to an injury and had not scored a goal since December 31. Ironically for Holland, that December goal was against Austin.
THE BUZZ IN ONTARIO
The Central Hockey League last week announced a partnership with Maple Leafs TV and Maple Leaf America which will broadcast 20 CHL contests from the coming season under a CHL Game of the Week package each Thursday evening. In addition, a 12-part reality series, titled "On the Bus", will begin taping later this month for broadcasts beginning in January. Maple Leafs TV is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week network formed in 2001 focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ontario-related hockey players. Last season, 39.2 % of the CHL's season-opening rosters listed Ontario as their home province. The first four installments of the CHL Game of the Week will feature Amarillo at Lubbock from October 29th, Corpus Christi at Rio Grande Valley on November 6th, Tulsa at Oklahoma City on November 11th, and Oklahoma City at Bossier-Shreveport on November 20th. The broadcasts will air Thursdays at 8:00 PM EST, beginning on November 4th. "On the Bus" will feature four pairs of CHL rivalries, with the Maple Leaf America video crew spending two weeks with each pair of CHL clubs, beginning October 27th with the Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Sat. Oct. 23 2-5 L @ Austin Ice Bats Top Star: AUS- Arturs Kupaks (2 goals,1 assist, 3 points)
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tue. - Wed.: 10 - 11 AM @ Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi Thur - Fri: 10 - 11 AM at Dodge Arena
WEEK AHEAD
Fri. Oct. 29 7:30 vs. Laredo Bucks Radio: Real Country 840 AM TV: Televisa (XHAB Ch.7)
Notes: The Killer Bees open up the home schedule Friday night against the rival Laredo Bucks. The Bees are 4-8-1 all-time against the Bucks, who swept the Killer Bees 3-0 in the first round of the CHL playoffs. Rio Grande Valley is 2-5-0 against the Bucks at the Dodge Arena, winning two of the last three games. The previous three regular season meetings have resulted in overtime decisions. CHL MVP Jeff Bes is one of seven returning Bucks and leads the all-time series in scoring with 25 points off of 8 goals and 17 assists. Bees returning all-star Bill Newson led theBees in the series scoring with 9 points (6g,3a). In net, the Bucks have returning netminder David Guerrera (4-1-2 vs. Bees) and Jeremy Symington, who was 1-0-0 against the Bees last season as a member of the Lubbock Cotton Kings. Bees goaltender Jeff Levy was 3-6-0 in net last season against the Bucks, while Jacque Vezina was 1-2-1. Laredo is one of the few teams in the CHL to ever have an NHL first round and second round draft selection on their roster. Forward Scott Kelman was the fifteenth selection in the 1999 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, and Tanzania native Chris Neilsen, who has appeared in 52 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was a second round selection (36th overall) in the 1998 NHL Draft. Rio Grande Regional Hospital will be giving away Killer Bees Magnetic Schedules to all in attendance, and everyone in the arena will also receive a pair of Thundersticks.
Sat. Oct. 30 7:30 vs. Austin Ice Bats Radio: ESPN Radio 1240 AM (pending World Series) / Real Country 840 AM TV: CHLTV.COM
Notes: The Killer Bees look to pay back the Ice Bats, who defeated the Bees 5-2 in the season opener Saturday. The Bees are 0-1-0 against the Bats this season and 8-5-0 all-time. Rio Grande Valley is 6-0-0 against the Bats at the Dodge Arena. Arturs Kupaks (2g,1a) and John McNabb (1g,2a) each lead the season series with 3 points each for Austin. Inter National Bank will be presenting Killer Bees Pucks to the first 1,000 fans in attendance, and all fans will enjoy "Trick or Treat" candy given away at both of the games.
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS
Jason Tessier - 10/28/79
Central Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2004
- Killer Bees Weekly - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Mudbugs Weekly - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- CHL Names Oakley Player, Goaltender of the Week - CHL
- Scorpions split pair to open season - New Mexico Scorpions
- Scott Reid Name CHL Oakley Goaltender of the Week - San Angelo Saints
- NHL Hall Of Famer On Bucks Weekly Tonight - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings to spotlight The Bodine School for dyslexia - Mississippi RiverKings
- Meet the Brahmas party this Monday - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rayz hitting the airwaves - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Tarantulas and Celtic Fox Halloween Party - Topeka Tarantulas
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.
Other Recent Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Stories
- Killer Bees Suspend Operations
- Killer Bees Eliminated; Fall to Wichita 6-2
- Shorthanded Bees Fall to Wichita in Game Three
- Bees Win Game Three Against Thunder, 5-2
- Time Runs out on Bees, Fall 2-1 to Wichita

