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Thrashers Draft Selection Joins Bees Blueline

September 15, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


HIDALGO, TX: September 15, 2004 – The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League placed another addition to the 2004/2005 roster with the signing of defenseman Matt Suderman.

"Matt is a huge guy who will do a good job clearing the way in front of the net," said Killer Bees Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Tracy Egeland. "The veteran defense we have should ease his learning curve as a rookie and will help him develop his talents at this level."

Suderman (soo-duhr-man) is a native of Winkler, Manitoba and a 2001 NHL Entry Draft selection of the Atlanta Thrashers. He attended training camp last season with the CHL's Memphis RiverKings, but returned to juniors for his final year of junior hockey. His rights were acquired by the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Everett Silvertips in the Silvertips Expansion Draft last offseason from the Saskatoon Blades, and he played three games last season with Everett. He primarily spent last season in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL) with the Bonnyville Pontiacs and the South Surrey Eagles, combining for 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points in 39 games.

The 6'3" 245-pound defenseman started out his junior career with the Saskatoon Blades after they acquired him in the 1998 Bantam Draft. Suderman played in one game for the Blades during the 99/00 season, which was mostly served in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) with the Winkler Flyers, where he totaled 11 points (3g,8a) in 54 games. He rejoined the Blades in 01/02 and went on to play three full seasons combining for 2 goals and 21 assists for 23 points and 356 penalty minutes in 186 games. His finest season with the Blades came in 00/01, as he won their "Diamond in the Rough" award for tallying 9 points (1g,8a) in 70 games. The 21 year-old closed out his junior career with a Major Juniors (WHL) career of 2 goals and 21 assists for 23 points and 256 penalty minutes in 190 games, and a Jr. "A" (MJHL, BCJHL) career of 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points in 93 games to combine for an overall junior career of 7 goals and 37 assists for 44 points in 283.

The signing of Suderman places the Bees with 17 players on the roster. He joins goaltenders Jeff Levy and Jacque Vezina; defensemen Derek Holland, Sean Gillam, Josh Mizerek, Darcy Smith, 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, Suderman qualifies as a "developmental player," giving the Killer Bees seven signed by the squad (joins Anthony Donskov, Matt Donskov, Jason Hawes, Matic Kralj, Bob Rangus 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."



Central Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2004


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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