The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Will Have Two Training Camp Signees In Camps With The AHL

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – Hidalgo, Texas --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees today announced that two players who have signed with the team for the 2007-08 Fifth Anniversary Season have received invites to American Hockey League training camps.

Goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten will participate in camp with the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals), while defenseman Adam Blanchette is headed to camp with the Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets).

“As an organization we’re proud of the opportunity that has been given to these players,” said Killer Bees Head Coach Paul Fixter. “I know Jeff and Adam will represent the Killer Bees and themselves very well. I believe this could be the start of something very good for the organization.”

Van Nynatten, 25, is a Stratford, Ontario, native who went 11-12-3 in 32 regular season games for the Bees during his rookie season of 2006-07. He started seven of the team’s final 12 games to post a 4-1-2 mark in the month of March, along with a 2.04 GAA and .933 save percentage.

Blanchette, 21, is a native of Berlin, Connecticut. He played in all 64 games as a rookie with the Bees last season and collected six points (1-5-6) and 45 PIM. A versatile player, Blanchette also saw time at forward and scored his first pro goal playing wing on March 6, 2007.

The Killer Bees retain the ‘AA’ rights to both players. Should either player receive an AHL contract offer and begin the season in the AHL, the Bees retain their rights in the event of re-assignment to the ‘AA’ level of hockey.

“This is a huge step for us. Part of why we’re here is to help develop players to get them to the next level,” said Killer Bees President/Owner Troy Nelson. “Having players in AHL camps will help put us on the hockey map. It helps us recruit and makes us even more of an attractive place to play. An affiliation is something we’ve talked about. It’s something we would be interested in pursuing. That said it would have to be the right situation with the right team.”