{"product_id":"rio-grande-valley-killer-bees-crewneck-sweatshirt","title":"Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Crewneck Sweatshirt","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees brought professional hockey to the southern tip of Texas as an expansion team in 2003-04. Based in Hidalgo, on the Mexican border just south of McAllen, the Killer Bees played at the new Dodge Arena, which opened in October 2003 with seating for 5,500 for hockey and was renamed State Farm Arena in 2010. Wearing black, teal and gold, the team averaged 5,114 fans and won 32 games under head coach Tracy Egeland in its first season to reach the playoffs, and crowds grew to 5,171 a night the following winter. The league named Rio Grande Valley its franchise of the year for 2003-04 and again for 2008-09, when Chris Brooks's team won 35 games and the only playoff series in club history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDwayne Hay, a winger who played 79 NHL games with the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, captained the Killer Bees in 2005-06, and Jason Cirone, a former Winnipeg Jets forward, served the club as a player and assistant coach. Billy Newson became the franchise's career leader in goals (90), assists (102) and points (192), and Sean Gillam's No. 7 was the only number the club retired. Terry Ruskowski, a former Chicago Black Hawks captain, took over as head coach and general manager for 2011-12 and led the Killer Bees to 32 wins and their sixth playoff appearance in nine seasons. That roster included defenseman Ryan Warsofsky, who later became head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. With the league's other Texas clubs in Austin, Corpus Christi and Laredo gone, rising travel costs led the Killer Bees to cease operations in June 2012. A junior team revived the name at the same arena from 2013 to 2015 before relocating to Pennsylvania.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis would make a unique gift for the hockey fan in your life or a neat find for yourself of a vintage hockey team from Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFree standard shipping on all orders shipped to the USA.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nQuestions about us or our products? Check out our FAQ.  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vintageicehockey.com\/pages\/a-note-about-ship-times\"\u003eLearn more \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n--\u003cbr\u003e\nAbout the sweatshirt from the manufacturer:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gildan 18000 sweatshirt is a unisex heavy blend crewneck made from a 50\/50 cotton-polyester fabric, combining softness with lasting durability. Its smooth surface supports crisp, vibrant prints and embroidery, while the ribbed-knit collar and reinforced cuffs help it keep its shape over time. A seamless body design reduces irritation and adds to overall comfort. Practical, sturdy, and print-friendly, the Gildan 18000 sweatshirt remains a top choice for custom apparel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisclaimer\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e- Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.\u003cbr\u003e- Subtle orange hue shifts with lighting in the Orange color variant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"listMCE\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Gildan 18000 sweatshirt is built for comfort and durability, made from a medium-heavy (8.0 oz\/yd² (271 g\/m²)) 50\/50 cotton-polyester blend.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSay goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Gildan 18000 sweatshirt uses ethically grown US cotton, supported by the US Cotton Trust Protocol, with OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 (Certificate No. 168252, OETI - Institut fuer Oekologie) certified dyes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFabric blends: Heather Sport colors - 60% polyester, 40% cotton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmbroidery decoration method available on either left chest, center chest, or large center chest, as well as right + left wrists\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Vintage Ice Hockey","offers":[{"title":"S \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794388755,"sku":"41687231686975415216","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"S \/ Black","offer_id":67676794421523,"sku":"14364678105980998372","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"S \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794454291,"sku":"12520691125760624088","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"M \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794487059,"sku":"50871048339721239553","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"M \/ Black","offer_id":67676794519827,"sku":"12505578684980463969","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"M \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794552595,"sku":"25912135285241191075","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"L \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794585363,"sku":"25197260229949570228","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"L \/ Black","offer_id":67676794618131,"sku":"17419461699987456837","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"L \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794650899,"sku":"31921765629837086853","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XL \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794683667,"sku":"85689984207501383246","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XL \/ Black","offer_id":67676794716435,"sku":"17271197155329941613","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XL \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794749203,"sku":"29399135431098807739","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2XL \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794781971,"sku":"66800324297713180189","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2XL \/ Black","offer_id":67676794814739,"sku":"18349336826339369735","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2XL \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794847507,"sku":"15218345251251322757","price":48.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3XL \/ Sport Grey","offer_id":67676794880275,"sku":"26748605374970407117","price":51.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3XL \/ Black","offer_id":67676794913043,"sku":"12408246360797347484","price":51.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3XL \/ Gold","offer_id":67676794945811,"sku":"20512823053993607186","price":51.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0253\/6459\/4766\/files\/399570509593026278_2048.jpg?v=1792119279","url":"https:\/\/vintageicehockey.com\/products\/rio-grande-valley-killer-bees-crewneck-sweatshirt","provider":"Vintage Ice Hockey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}