Lee enjoying memorable, tiring season for Bees

HIDALGO — If Aaron Lee’s season included just an AHL call-up that would make this campaign a memorable one. Same goes for a CHL first star of the month honor, an all-star game appearance or becoming the Killer Bees’ leader in games played.

“It’s definitely been very exciting. Getting a call-up was a dream come true and then getting the nod to play in the all-star game was another great honor,” Lee said. “Those are two things that I’ll cherish for a long time and look back on my career I’ll always remember.”

During his fourth season with the Bees, Lee has emerged as one the league’s better two-way players. His latest memorable moment came on his first shift Sunday in North Richland Hills when he passed Ryan Shmyr with his 224th Bees appearance.

Passing Shmyr also came at the end of a long and tiring stretch of travel for Lee, which is somewhat a consequence of his play.

It started at the end of December when he returned from Calgary after the Christmas break for a series in Prescott Valley, Ariz. against the Sundogs. Then he and the Bees (16-14-5) traveled to Rapid City, S.D. to play the Rush.

And while his teammates relaxed over the all-star break, Lee went back to Prescott Valley for the CHL All-Star Game before returning to the Valley last Thursday for the three-game series with Texas that ended with an up-and-back to North Richland Hills.

So it shouldn’t be surprising Lee had things on his mind during Monday’s day off besides savoring his accomplishments.

“I’m definitely trying to make the most of that and give my body some time to heal and get some rest,” Lee said. “That’s kind of the way it goes sometimes. You’ve got to grind it out a little bit at times.

“If I had to I’d do it all over again because playing in the All-Star Game was awesome.”

That game was a reward for Lee, whose 17 goals are a team-high and his 28 points are tied for second heading into Tuesday night's game against Laredo (13-20-0). During his first three years he steadily became one of the Bees’ better players, but never to the extent of this season.

What hasn’t changed, despite the recent travel, are the expectations on him from coach Terry Ruskowski. Travel or not, Lee has a role to play

Not that Ruskowski was worried about Lee during this stretch.

“There’s other guys that I’ve coached that I’d probably wonder, but not with Aaron,” Ruskowski said. “Aaron’s a leader. With (David Marshall) not here, he’s definitely the guy we look to to be a captain and lead the guys on the ice and off the ice.” 

Because of that and the changes around the franchise, a fair case could be made for Lee as the face of the Bees. He’s now the leader in games played and needs to score 15 goals to pass Bill Newson for the most in team history.

 If Lee does pass Newson, it will be another moment for him to remember after passing Shmyr on Sunday.

“He deserves what he’s gotten because of his playing ability,” Ruskowski said. “I’m very proud of what he’s done. He learned the system quick and he’s caught on to it. He’s played well and been successful doing it.”

And that’s without a lot of rest.

ICING: The Tulsa Oilers on Monday beat Allen 5-4. With that result, Tulsa tied the Bees for fourth place in the Berry Conference at 37 points.

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via email at bsandalow@themonitor.com.