Rae Metz Joins Killer Bees

Published on September 21, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, TX: September 21, 2004 – The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League signed an experienced developmental player for the 2004/2005 season with the signing of forward Rae Metz.

"Metz produced a good first year last season and got his feet wet with the ins-and-outs of the professional level," said Killer Bees Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Tracy Egeland. "Former coaches of his I am familiar with informed me that he has a great work ethic and that he is a well balanced forward."

Metz joins the Killer Bees after spending his first professional season in the ECHL last season. The Kent, Ohio native began the season with the Greenville Grrrowl and played 24 games with the Grrrowl before a multi-player trade dealt him to the Beaumont based Texas Wildcatters. In the 24 games with the Grrrowl, Metz contributed 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points, and then produced 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 42 games with the Wildcatters to combine for 28 points (10g,18a) in 66 games last season.

The 5'10" 170-pound forward played American-juniors with the Gaylord Grizzlies (Gaylord, MI) and in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Danville Wings, where he produced 23 points (4g,19a) in 54 games in 98/99 before attending Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT). Metz was a prolific player for the Fairfield University Stags NCAA Div. I ice hockey program from 99/00 - 02/03. He began his college career by producing 40 points (17g,23a) in 34 games, which is the second-most for a freshman in school history and earned him Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors in 99/00. The success of his freshman season led to two consecutive preseason All-MAAC honors. He was a three-year captain and led the Stags program in scoring each of the four seasons to finish his career ranked 12th on Fairfield's all-time scoring list with 52 goals and 82 assists for 134 points. He co-holds the program's games played record with 130 games played. Metz wrapped up his college career his senior season (02/03) with 30 points off of 10 goals and 20 assists in 32 games to rank 12th in the MAAC and claimed him Itech All-MAAC Second Team honors. His five career short handed goals is a MAAC career mark and he also holds the MAAC single-game point record with a 7 point(2g,5a) performance on 1/11/00 against Holy Cross. Those records will never be broken, as the MAAC discontinued supporting ice hockey among their list of conference sports following the 02/03 season. Fairfield University also dropped their ice hockey program at that time.

The signing of Metz gives the Bees 18 players on the current roster. He joins goaltenders Jeff Levy and Jacque Vezina; defensemen Derek Holland, Sean Gillam, Josh Mizerek, Darcy Smith, Matt Suderman, Jason Tessier; and forwards Anthony Donskov, Matt Donskov, Blaz Emersic, Jason Hawes, Matic Kralj, Troy Linna, Bill Newson, Bob Rangus and Ryan Shmyr. With less than 128 games played as a professional, Metz qualifies as a "developmental player," giving the Killer Bees eight signed by the squad (joins Anthony Donskov, Matt Donskov, Jason Hawes, Matic Kralj, Bob Rangus, Matt Suderman, and Jacque Vezina). CHL rules require each team to have at least five players on their squad who have participated in 128 or fewer professional games, and those players are classified as "developmental players."

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2004


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