Fixter leaving Killer Bees for major junior league

HIDALGO - For the second time in three summers, the Killer Bees are without a coach.

On Monday, the Ontario Hockey League-champion Kitchener Rangers announced that Paul Fixter has accepted an offer to become the team's associate coach and general manager. In two seasons with the Bees, Fixter went 44-69-15 and took them to the first round of the postseason in 2007, where they lost in five games to Laredo.

"I think it's a great hire for our organization. Unfortunately for everybody in their organization it's a loss," Kitchener coach and GM Steve Spott said. "I say that with all due respect because I know how much Paul put into that organization and how proud he was to be a part of that organization. We're fortunate to have him."

When reached, Bees owner Troy Nelson and general manager Grant Buckborough confirmed the story but declined to comment further until Tuesday. Fixter did not return numerous calls to his cell phone.

Like predecessor Tony Martino, Fixter is leaving the Bees in the middle of the summer recruiting season. When Fixter was hired in August of 2006, he was tabbed to replace a coach that was hired two months earlier and had a roster of 14 players. Now Fixter, 45, leaves the Bees looking for their fourth coach in franchise history, and one that will be able to recruit a full roster by the start of training camp in October.

Fixter is also taking a job that is unquestionably a step up from the CHL. The OHL is one of the three major junior hockey leagues and a prime feeder for the NHL. And that, not the initial shock of losing a head coach, is what Bees forward Rob Voltera was focusing on Monday.

"I think it's unbelievable. I'm very happy for him," Voltera said. "Very proud. We're not in the NHL right now, we're in the business of moving people up to the next level. And from a coaching standpoint, that would be the next level, where he's going."

The job in Kitchener opened up last month when Spott, who formerly served as the Rangers' assistant coach and GM, was promoted to replace Peter DeBoer, who was hired to coach the NHL's Florida Panthers.

Spott said that he met with Fixter "about a week ago" in Kitchener while Fixter was in the area to visit his parents. At that meeting, Spott mentioned the opening and said Fixter showed interest in the job. On Sunday, Fixter informed Voltera and player-assistant coach Travis Banga of his decision to leave for his hometown team.

Judging by what Spott said, the decision was easier for the Rangers than Fixter, whom Spott said had "mixed feelings" about leaving the Bees.

"When you're getting into a position of this magnitude, you don't really have to go through an interview process, per se," Spott added. "We've kind of head-hunted two or three different people we were interested in, and Paul was in that group of guys. There were a few things that put him over the top. And having two Stanley Cup rings, coming from this area originally and having his mom and dad still living in this community he knows what it's like to work in this marketplace.

"Then you add the professionale experience on top of that, it made it a real easy decision once Paul said that this is something he would consider."

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436. For this and more local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.