Voltera officially returns to Bees

HIDALGO - It's been known for a while that Rob Voltera was returning to the Killer Bees. However, it wasn't official until Monday.

On Monday, Voltera, 30, signed on for his third season with the Bees. Last year, Voltera served as the Bees' captain and scored 27 goals and added 30 assists. He becomes the third member of the 2008-2009 Bees, joining returning forward Travis Banga and goalie Mike Minard, acquired from expansion Rapid City for future considerations.

Unlike most of his teammates from a league-worst 16-41-7 2007-2008 campaign, Voltera will be returning. He said he's known it since the end of the season, when he and the team agreed he would be coming back.

"I'm glad they wanted me back so I could redeem myself and what the team did last year" Voltera said. "I think we're on the right track. I know (Bees coach) Paul (Fixter) has been working his butt off. He's going again on a recruiting trip, and I know (Bees assistant coach Sean Gillam) is leaving sometime this week to go off recruiting as well. They really didn't have time to take a breather because they went right at it and right to work.

"I know it's going to be a totally different team, that's for sure."

Fixter was unavailable for comment, but in a statement, Gillam said "We are excited to have Rob back with our team for a third season. His work ethic, grit and leadership qualities are second to none."

As for his right shoulder, which Voltera had surgery on after the season, the Bees forward said "it's getting better but there's still a long way to go."

"Sometimes it feels like it's 100 percent and then they add a new exercise and it feels like they haven't even started anything," Voltera said. "It's a weird situation."

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