Killer Bees: Brooks Joins All-Star Coaching Staff

PRESS RELEASE!

BROOKS NAMED ALL STAR ASSISTANT COACH
(December 23, 2009)

HIDALGO, Texas --- The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced that Head Coach Chris Brooks has been named an assistant coach for the 2010 CHL All-Star Game scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, 2010 in Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

Brooks is in his second season behind the bench. In his first season as a pro coach, he guided the club to a 35-24-5 record and its first ever playoff series victory. The team's 35 wins were the most in team history. He joined the Bees from Western Michigan University where he served for nine years. He began his career with the Broncos as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2006.

This year’s format features an all-star team representing South Texas (comprised of players from Laredo, Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley) taking on a team of CHL All-Stars (comprised of players from the remaining 12 teams).

Leading the CHL team will be Colorado’s Kevin McClelland and leading the South Texas team will be Laredo’s Terry Ruskowski with help from assistant co-coaches Brent Hughes from the Corpus Christi IceRays and Chris Brooks from the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

McClelland will coach in the game for the second consecutive season thanks to his team’s .820 win percentage through Tuesday’s games. The Eagles have won eight straight games and currently lead the Northern Conference. Last season, McClelland coached the Colorado Eagles team in the All-Star Game that featured the unique format of the host team, the Eagles, taking on a team of CHL All-Stars. Colorado and McClelland won the game 8-4 in the Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles coach is in his second season with the team and his fifth in the CHL. He has compiled an impressive 165-96-20 record during his combined time with the Eagles and the Mississippi RiverKings.

Ruskowski is in his eighth season with the Bucks coaching in his third All-Star Game. For both Hughes and Brooks, it will be their first CHL All-Star Game appearances as coaches.

The playing roster for the teams will be announced beginning on Monday, December 28 with the announcement of the South Texas starters and the CHL All-Stars will be announced on Tuesday, December 29.