Rees to Lubbock To Complete Deal

June 16, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, TX: June 16, 2004 – The Central Hockey League's Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Lubbock Cotton Kings completed a deal last summer, which sent the rights of Matic Kralj to the Killer Bees for a "future consideration." Lubbock completed the deal today by selecting and acquiring the rights of veteran defenseman Mike Rees from the Killer Bees to close out all remaining transactions that were made during the 2003/2004 season.

Rees, a 5'11" 195-pound defenseman, served as the Team Captain for the Killer Bees last season and posted 6 goals and 24 assists for 30 points in 59 games last season. The 30 year-old veteran will be labeled in Killer Bees history as firing the first shot on goal and contributing an assist on the first goal in team history. Rees started off the season on a high note, co-leading the squad in scoring by defensemen for the month of October (1g,2a,3pts) and leading the defensemen in November scoring (1g,8a, 9pts), but suffered a knee injury which required arthroscopic surgery. The Calgary defenseman co-holds the Bees single-game individual record for assists with 3 and plus/minus with a +4. Rees co-led the squad's plus/minus rating for the season with a +19. The seven-year pro has 129 points off of 32 goals and 97 assists in 380 career games.

With the close of open-transactions that were carrying over from moves made during last season, the Bees find themselves with the loss of two players so far off last season's roster. The Bees lost Roger Holeczy weeks ago to complete the original trade that was made for the Bees to acquire Rees for the Austin Ice Bats, where he played during the 2002/2003 season. Three players are currently under contract from the 2004/2005 Killer Bees season and they are Jeff Levy, Bill Newson and Ryan Shmyr. Any interview requests with Killer Bees Head Coach Tracy Egeland can be made by contacting Chris Due with the Killer Bees at 956-843-7825. Interview requests for either Lubbock Head Coach Chris Dashney or Mike Rees should be made by contacting Matt Marshall with the Lubbock Cotton Kings at 806-747-7825.

"The Valley of Bees" will swarm the Dodge Arena again in October, as the Killer Bees are currently preparing for their second season. Season tickets and corporate opportunities are now available by calling the Killer Bees office at (956) 843-7825. For more information concerning Killer Bees hockey, please visit their website at www.killerbeehockey.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from June 16, 2004


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