Bees end season in appropriate fashion

HIDALGO - The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees' season ending 6-2 loss to the Laredo Bucks was a sadly appropriate end to a CHL-worst campaign.

As they have been seemingly every night of the season, the Bees (16-41-7) were badly outshot. There were odd-man rushes that were squandered, along with power plays that didn't generate much pressure.

And, perhaps most damningly, RGV allowed one final killer goal.

"There's been a lot of instances throughout the year and of late that typify the type of season we've had and just exemplify the way it's gone," Bees coach Paul Fixter said.

That goal came less than 10 seconds into the second period of what was a scoreless game. The Bees, who had actually been standing up to the division-champion Bucks, allowed Laredo forward Alex Goupil to score an unassisted, shorthanded goal just eight seconds into the middle 20 minutes.

Laredo then increased its lead at the 14:40 mark of the second when defenseman Steve Weidlich received a cross-ice pass from Goupil and beat RGV goalie David Lemanowicz.

After Weidlich's goal, it was obvious that the Bees had started the countdown to the offseason. Despite scoring two goals of their own, the Bees also allowed Laredo (42-19-3) to score four goals in the third period, giving RGV's final game a familiar feel.

"I don't think anybody had that attitude in here that we wanted to get it over with," Bees defenseman Jeremy Van Hoof said. "I think everybody wanted to finish strong. You know, there's always people watching, no matter what game it is. I think a lot of guys are pretty upset the season's over. You didn't accomplish the things you wanted to do, it didn't go the way you wanted. You want to have that back."

Unfortunately for the Bees, Saturday night's game was their last until October. Many of them, likely the majority, will not be in the Valley next season and will not be able to make up for the franchise's worst season.

Fixter, who will be responsible for recruiting and signing next year's Bees, wasn't quite ready to get started on next season.

"I think there's a bit of a reflection period, kind of let the dust settle a little bit," Fixter said. "I'd be lying to you if... I guess it would be thing everybody wants to hear is, ‘Yeah, we've already got our wheels going to '08-'09. But, I can't sit here and lie to you.

 "I'll get over this pretty quick. You can only be kicked where you don't want to be kicked so often. I'll get over it."

 ICING: The Bees wore special Bud Light jerseys Saturday. The sweaters were auctioned off for charity after the game. ... Forward Nick Warriner missed his second straight game after injuring his left foot late in Wednesday's matchup with Corpus Christi. ... With an announced attendance of 5,535, Saturday night's game was almost the Bees' fourth sellout of the season. RGV finished the season with an average attendance of 4,711 per home date.

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

BUCKS 6, KILLER BEES 2

LAR                           0        2       4    -       6

RGV                           0        0       2    -       2

First period -No goals. Penalties - Hiebert, Laredo (holding) 3:53; Desjardins, Laredo (interference) 19:14

Second period - 1, Laredo, Goupil 23 SH (unassisted) 0:08; 2, Laredo, Weidlich 3 PP (Goupil, Elliott) 14:40. Penalties - Penner, Laredo (interference) 6:20; Chmiel, RGV (hooking) 11:20; Garbutt, RGV (holding) 13:02; Burnett, Laredo (interference) 18:15

Third period - 3, Laredo, Bes 46 (Elliott) 6:12; 4, Laredo, Stanley 4 (Weidlich, Hiebert) 7:22; 5, RGV, Slusher 2 (Weitzel, Herauf) 15:54; 6, Laredo, Goupil 23 PP (Walker, Elliott) 17:38; 7, RGV, Voltera 27 (Herauf, Chmiel) 18:35; 8, Laredo, Penner 4 (Summers, Desjardins) 19:56.  Penalties - Burnett, Laredo (slashing) 4:10; McNeill, RGV (tripping) 4:57; Herauf, RGV (hooking) 10:59; Voltera, RGV (tripping) 16:59; McNeill, RGV (slashing) 19:19.

Power-play opportunities: Laredo: 4-6 ; RGV: 0-5.   

Shots - Laredo: 10-17-18-45;  RGV: 8-6-12-26

Goalies - Laredo: John Ceci 26-24 (7-7; RGV: David Lemanowicz 45-39 (7-25-4).

A - 5,535 T - 2:22 

Referee - Dan Dreger Linesmen - Brock Geris, Kyle Simms