Ryan Shmyr Returns to the Valley

Published on July 13, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, TX: July 13, 2005 - While the global hockey world celebrates the fact that the NHL and the NHLPA reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a new bargaining agreement, hockey fans in the Rio Grande Valley can celebrate the return of left wing and Co-Fan Favorite Ryan Shmyr to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for the 2005/2006 season.

"It was very important to get Ryan back in a Bees uniform," said Killer Bees Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Tracy Egeland. "He is more than just a great fighter. Ryan contributes offensively, physically and mentally, which makes him invaluable."

Shmyr (shmear) completed his second season with the Bees last season and led the team with 310 penalty minutes to rank fourth in all the Central Hockey League. CHL coaches, players and broadcasters voted Shmyr as the toughest fighter in the Southern Conference last season in the CHL's "Best of the Best Poll." Shmyr also produced offensively for the Bees as well, posting 22 points with 13 goals and 9 assists. He ranked third on the squad in power play goals (5) and "first goals" (3), fourth in overall goals (13) and led the team in shooting percentage with an 18.3% shooting percentage. The 29 year-old co-led the Bees in January scoring with 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points. On 3/18/05 against Austin, Shmyr not only set the Bees single-game record for the fastest goal to begin a period (16-seconds), but he set the franchise single-game of penalty minutes with 31. In his combined two seasons with the Bees, Shmyr has racked up a franchise high 571 penalty minutes in 117 games. He ranks third all-time in Bees goals (27) and sixth in points with 48. Shmyr posted an offensively career best season in 2003/2004, as he contributed with a personal best 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points with the Killer Bees. He co-led the squad with 4 game-winning goals, and they included the Bees first ever win over Laredo (11/19/03 @ Laredo) and the Bees playoff-clinching win on 3/5/04 at Lubbock. The 6'6" 230-pound forward has been voted the Killer Bees Co-Fan Favorite over the past two seasons and ranked sixth in the league with a team leading 261 penalty minutes in 03/04.

The Fairview, Alberta native joined the Killer Bees in their inaugural campaign after spending the 2002/2003 season in the NHL Calgary Flames system. He began that season in camp with the Calgary Flames, appearing in NHL preseason action, and was one of the final roster cuts in Calgary as the Flames assigned him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Saint John. Shmyr appeared in 21 games with the Saint John Flames, recording a goal and an assist while calculating 41 penalty minutes. He was later assigned to Calgary's East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliate in Johnstown (PA.), where he scored 2 goals and added 3 assists for 5 points. Shmyr posted 129 penalty minutes in 45 games with the Johnstown Chiefs to rank fourth on the squad. Combining his Johnstown and Saint John stats during 02/03, Shmyr finished the season with 3 goals and 4 assist for 7 points along with 170 penalty minutes in 66 games. Shmyr also played in Johnstown during the 01/02 season after attending training camp with the Providence Bruins of the AHL (Boston Bruins top affiliate). He piled up 174 penalty minutes in 29 games with Johnstown and was then promoted up to the Rochester Americans of the AHL (Buffalo Sabres top affiliate) and skated in 34 games scoring a goal and 2 assists for 3 points and 170 penalty minutes.

The left winger turned pro with the San Diego Gulls of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) after completing his junior career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. During his junior career, Shmyr started out as a goaltender, but eventually made the transition to a forward. Shmyr joined San Diego at the close of the 97/98 season and rode the roster as the Gulls claimed the WCHL Championship title. He played 27 games in San Diego the following season (98/99) prior to joining the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) and the Lubbock Cotton Kings. Shmyr became an instant fan favorite in Lubbock during the Cotton Kings inaugural season in 99/00 and broke the WPHL single-season record with 437 penalty minutes. He continued in Lubbock for the 01/02 season and became a teammate of Killer Bees Head Coach Tracy Egeland. Shmyr had a career best season to date offensively with 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 points and 282 penalty minutes. He also scored the most memorable goal in Cotton Kings history during the playoffs, as he ended the longest game in WPHL history with a goal at the 16:16 mark of the third overtime at 1:36 AM in Odessa to lead the Cotton Kings to a victory over Odessa. Lubbock went on to win the WPHL's Western Conference, but came up short against Bossier-Shreveport in the President's Cup series.

Shmyr will qualify as a veteran on the Killer Bees roster, as he has registered 416 professional games played. In the 416 games, Shmyr has accumulated 44 goals and 49 assists for 93 points along with 2,017 penalty minutes. This will be his ninth professional season and his third in the Central Hockey League.

The signing of Shmyr places the Killer Bees with four players announced for the 2005/2006 campaign. He joins defensemen Sean Gillam, Darcy Smith and forward Bill Newson. He is the third veteran signed to the club joining Newson and Gillam. If you would like to arrange an interview with Ryan Shmyr or Head Coach Tracy Egeland, please contact Chris Due at the Killer Bees office.

The Killer Bees will swarm the Dodge Arena again in October, as the Killer Bees are currently preparing for their third 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.

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