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RGV Killer Bees Open Camp

September 3, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, Texas - Thirty-three highly talented players began their journey Thursday at State Farm Arena "The Bee Hive" to vie for 23 available roster spots with the North American Hockey League's Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, as the team opened its first official training camp.

Four of the 33 players in camp played in the NAHL championship game a season ago, competing for the Robertson Cup, the league's equivalent of the Stanley Cup, with the Wenatchee Wild. Among the returners are forwards Evan Schmidbauer, Nate Flynn and Tyler Bruneteau, and defenseman Dylan Abood.

Also competing in camp are six players whom the Killer Bees selected in the 2013 NAHL Entry Draft, including forwards Trent Dillinger, Ben Greiner, Robbie Marsanico and Brad Milks, as well as defensemen Luke Bafia and Perry Holcombe.

The 4-day camp is highly competitive. Director of Scouting and Player Development Brad Lutsch and Coombs will have the difficult task of trimming the team's roster down to 25 players by Sept. 1, and down to 23 players by Oct. 1.

"We want to play hockey a certain way," said RGV Killer Bees head coach Joe Coombs. "We will find out who wants to play. We want kids who can skate, play with some emotion, and we want them to care. We want them to be Killer Bees, who are team-oriented first, and then we will take it from there."

Over the course of the 4-day camp, season ticket holders, media members and general public will have opportunities to see their new junior hockey team with a trio intrasquad scrimmages planned. On Friday (Aug. 30), the Killer Bees' first scrimmage will begin at 4 p.m. and is open to season ticket holders and the media. The second intrasquad scrimmage will be played Saturday (Aug. 31) at 4 p.m. and is open to the general public. The third and final intrasquad scrimmage of camp is only open to the media and will begin Sunday (Sept. 1) at 10 a.m.

"If the community wants to come out and see their boys play, then they surely are welcome," Coombs said.

The Killer Bees open up the 2013-14 season Sept. 13-14 on the road with a pair of games against South Division foe Lone Star. The Bees will then take part in the NAHL's Showcase Tournament Sept. 18-21 in Blaine, Minn., where they will play four games in as many days. The Killer Bees' first home series at State Farm Arena is on Sept. 28-29 against Wichita Falls.

For ticket information contact the Killer Bees at (956) 843-5651 or email info@killerbeeshockey.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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