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CHL Hockey
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pivalleygirl
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:11 pm Killer Bees Sign Goaltenders |
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Killer Bees Sign Goaltenders
08/15/06 - Central Hockey League (CHL) Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Hidalgo, Texas --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced the signings of goaltenders Jeff Van Nynatten (ny-NATT-in) and Mathieu Blanchard.
Van Nynatten, 24, was named the College Hockey America (CHA) first-team goalie and CHA Tournament MVP in 2004 after leading the Niagara Purple Eagles to the playoff championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, he once again led his club to the CHA Finals but this time lost to Bemidji State. En route, he shattered the conference record by stopping 59 shots against Minnesota on Jan. 7, 2006 and a set CHA record for career wins (54), overtaking former Wayne State netminder David Guererra.
The Stratford, Ontario, native completed his career at Niagara with a 54-40-8 record in 111 games played. He turned aside 2,956 shots in four seasons to set a Purple Eagle record, and set the single-season mark with 1,076 saves during the 2005-06 campaign. He is ranked first on the CHA charts in career wins and minutes played (6237:56).
An eight-time CHA Defensive Player of the Week, Van Nynatten was named to the CHA All-Academic team twice and registered five career shutouts. He went on to post an overall GAA of 3.10 and save percentage of .902. In CHA-only contests, Van Nynatten had a 37-15-5 mark with a 2.77 GAA and a save percentage of .908. He turned pro at the end of last season with the Fresno Falcons (ECHL) and appeared in one game. Van Nynatten majored in business.
"I had other options in the league but felt that Rio Grande was the best choice," said Van Nynatten. "They have great fan support and a good squad. It seems like a great place to start my career."
Blanchard, 24, had his best season in 2005-06 with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees despite missing the first half of the season with an injury. The St. Ambroise, Quebec, native returned between the pipes in a relief effort against the McGill Redmen on November 27, 2005, turning aside all seven shots that he faced in 10-minutes of work.
After the Christmas break, Blanchard sparked the Gee-Gees to a seven-game unbeaten streak to start the second half of the season, including a record-setting 4-0 shutout on January 13 at Trois-Rivières, where he became the first goaltender in 34-years to whitewash the hometown Patriotes.
He was a member of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) silver medal winning Gee-Gees team in 2003, where he played in 16 games and recorded a 3.12 GAA. That season he earned the 2002-03 OUA East Rookie of the Year award and was also named to the OUA East All-Rookie Team. Blanchard graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Human Kinetics
The Killer Bees open up their fourth season of CHL action on the weekend of October 20 and 21, 2006 vs. the Arizona Sundogs. Season tickets and corporate sponsorships are available now by calling (956) 843-PUCK. Stay tuned all summer to killerbeehockey.com for the latest news and transactions as they become official! |
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backupgoalie
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:56 pm |
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| You notice Tony goes to Canada and these guys run to the valley. |
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gorillakido
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:55 pm |
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| lol |
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pivalleygirl
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:51 pm |
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| They sound like good goalies. |
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gorillakido
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:07 pm |
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wait till they get lit up by someone..
then you wont think there so good.
:icon_smilie_flagge17: |
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pivalleygirl
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:35 pm |
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| Well, they sound good. I wanna see if they can hold out for 64 games?! |
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gorillakido
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| Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:22 pm |
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| hahaha well where gonna lick it up |
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thatbritishguy
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:24 am |
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firstly, greetings from this side of the pond...am a british guy who's adopted the killer bees as my CHL team since Dennis Maxwell signed :icon_grinning-smiley-021:
secondly, am nervous bout the goalie situation in the valley...these guys look good but 2 unproven goalies at pro level is a risky move and i hope it pays off |
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pivalleygirl
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:36 am |
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| Welcome, thatbritishguy! |
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gorillakido
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:15 pm |
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| yeah, welcome to the board. |
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riobee
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:20 pm |
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| I adopted Bracknell as my British team since my wife went to school there and yes, they're called the Bees. |
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gorillakido
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:20 pm |
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| you went to school in bracknell? |
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riobee
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| Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:38 pm |
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| My wife did. |
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thatbritishguy
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| Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:11 am |
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| lol...that's cool...not that bracknell is exactly the most picturesque place ever...the bees will have a good epl season i feel |
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