Bees lose in typical fashion

HIDALGO - For just a few seconds during Friday night’s 5-3 loss to the Austin Ice Bats, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees looked like they had some momentum.

Defenseman Josh Garbutt had just scored the Bees’ first power play goal since Feb. 1 against Tulsa, pulling RGV (11-31-7) to within one goal at the 15:53 mark of the second. But, as has happened too many times for the Bees to be a competitive team, they squandered any chance they had to win shortly thereafter.

Just 22 seconds later, Brendan Cook scored his third goal of the night to restore Austin’s two-goal lead, one the Ice Bats (21-29-1) held for the rest of the night.

“It demoralizes. It’s deflating,” Bees coach Paul Fixter said of allowing one goal so quickly after scoring. “It’s like sticking a pin in a balloon.”

However, in all honesty, the balloon that is the Bees has been deflated for a while now. They’ve been making the same mistakes for months, allowing costly goals at bad times. The defense, which is the league’s worst statistically, allowed Austin, the CHL’s third-lowest scoring team, to score four times in the second period.

Even Austin coach Brent Hughes, a man whose team might not even exist next season, seemed to feel somewhat bad for Fixter and the Bees. Hughes’ team started the season 7-22-1, but has won 14 of its last 21 to pull into a tie for the Southern Conference’s final playoff spot.

“I know what Paul’s going through over there. And it can turn. It can definitely turn for you, better or worse. I’m glad it’s gone in the right direction for us,” Hughes said.

For the Bees, however, there aren’t too many signs that they have time to do what Austin has. In front of a crowd of 3,920, the Bees gave no indication that any turnaround is near.

Still trailing 5-3 but coming off a period in which they scored three goals, the Bees only managed five shots in the third period, seemingly resigned to their ninth loss in 10 games.

“This isn’t why you’re in the business, to lose, get the (expletive) kicked out of you every night,” Fixter said. “It’s not about wins and losses. (Trainer) Jorge Garcia said it best to me. He said it’s about pride and proving to the paying public you have some. I think Jorge Garcia is right.”

Judging by parts of Friday night’s game, it’s getting hard to figure out which, if any, players still have that pride. Fixter said “some guys show it.”

“I think that’s innate. I think you either have it or you don’t,” Fixter said.

ICING: Bees forward Josh Bonar was scratched Friday. Bonar entered Friday night’s game as the team’s fifth-leading scorer with 28 points. However, since his first career hat trick Jan. 8 against Arizona, the rookie only has two assists.

Fixter termed the move a “coach’s decision” and didn’t elaborate further.

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.

BATS 5, BEES 3

AUS 1 4 0 — 5

RGV 0 3 0 — 3

First period — 1, Austin, Cook 23 (McArthur, Flath) 7:37 Penalties — Patton, Austin (hooking) 1:06; Veenema, Austin (high-sticking) 3:22; McArthur, Austin (hooking) 4:32; Voltera, RGV (unsportsmanlike conduct) 5:36; Voltera, RGV (roughing) 5:36; Big Snake, RGV (roughing double minor) 5:36; Big Snake, RGV (abuse of officials rule 40 misconduct) 5:36; Kerr, Austin (roughing) 5:36; Wilson, Austin (roughing) 5:36; Kuster, Austin (hooking) 14:44; Garbutt, RGV (roughing) 19:22

Second period. — 2, RGV, Voltera 23 SH (Banga, Maxwell) 0:19; 3, RGV, Lapointe 7 (Slusher, Big Snake) 3:53; 4, Austin, Cook 24 (Bartlett, Vandermeer) 8:10; 5, Austin, Bartlett 17 (Vandermeer, Cook) 11:02; 6, Austin, Kerr 1 (McArthur, Flath) 14:00; 7, RGV, Garbutt 6 PP (Herauf) 15:53; 8, Austin, Cook 25 (Vandermeer, Bartlett) 16:15. Penalties — Slusher, RGV (too many men bench minor) 1:47; Maxwell, RGV (board checking) 8:47; O’Leary, RGV (roughing) 11:57; Flath, Austin (roughing) 11:57; Wilson, Austin (tripping) 15:46; Warriner, RGV (tripping) 17:15

Third period — No Goals. Penalties — Cook, Austin (tripping) 13:44

Power-play opportunities: Austin 0-6; RGV: 1-6.

Shots — Austin: 11-21-7-39 ; RGV: 19-11-5-35.

Goalies — Austin: Doug Groenestege 35-32 (5-7); RGV:David Lemanowicz: 39-34 (7-19-4)

A — 3,920 T — 2:25

Referee — Tudor Floru

Linesmen — Kyle Simms, Pat Smith