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Rycroft, CHL Goal-Scoring Leader in 2007/08, Signs in RGV

June 25, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, TEXAS --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced that center Daymen Rycroft has signed with the team for the 2009-10 season.

Rycroft, 30, played two seasons with RGV from 2004-06. In 113 regular season games, he collected 75 points (37-38-75) and 181 PIM. Those numbers rank him among the top-10 in the franchise record book for goals and points. He played the last two seasons with the Rocky Mountain Rage (CHL) and served as a player/assistant coach last season.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Beaverlodge, Alberta, native's breakout campaign came in 2007-08 when he won the CHL goal-scoring title. He established new career highs that season by leading the league with 48 goals while finishing for seventh with 84 points overall. His league-high 23 power play goals equaled a mark that has not been surpassed in the CHL since the 2000-01 campaign.

In a season full of offensive exploits, Rycroft's most impressive stretch last year came during the month of January when he was named the CHL's Player of the Month. He registered 26 points (16-10-26), potted five game-winning goals, and strung together a 10-game goal-scoring streak, which tied the longest goal-scoring streak in the CHL since the league record of 13 straight games was last accomplished in 1995-96.

"To be able to bring in a player of Daymen's caliber to our team was a big priority for me," Killer Bees Head Coach Chris Brooks said. "More importantly, to bring in a good character kid that fits into the culture of our team was even bigger. Daymen brings experience, skill, grit and character which are difficult qualities to find in elite players."

Last season, he appeared in 51 games for the Rage and finished second in team scoring with 63 points (28-35-63) while adding 100 PIM. He led the team with 23 power play points, finished tied for the team lead in goals and was second in plus-minus (+11).

Prior to signing with the Rage, he spent one season (2006-07) playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the ECHL.

"I'm happy to come back to the Valley. It wasn't a tough decision to decide to play here again," Rycroft said. "I'm excited to help build on the success the team had last season and I'm thrilled to be a piece of the puzzle to make a run at the President's Cup."

During Rycroft's previous tenure with RGV, he went by his step-father's surname, Bencharski. "When I started playing, putting Rycroft-Bencharski on the back of a jersey was impossible, so they just started using Bencharski, " Rycroft explained. "With all the crackdowns on immigration and everything, it became a hassle at the border so I went back to using Rycroft."

The Killer Bees return to Dodge Arena ice this October for their seventh season in the CHL. Season tickets are available now by calling 956-843-PUCK (7825).



Central Hockey League Stories from June 25, 2009


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