Is there life after playing Sioux Hockey? For Kyle Radke there is, actually you could say he never stopped. For his third professional season, Radke signed with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (www.killerbeehockey.com) of the Central Hockey League. Radke is once again a true blue liner whose Sioux roots run deep. That Fighting Sioux intensity is shining through and has helped Radke make an immediate impact in the Killer Bees program. In two games; Radke has three shots on goal and the Bees have zero goals against with him on the ice.
Radke brings with him a great sense of awareness that allows him to know what’s going to happen before the play fully develops, a skill possessed by all good defensemen. His ownership of the blue line shows almost every shift. Radke is able to cut off huge chunks of ice and force opponents to do his bidding.
Radke has seen a lot of playing time and has landed a spot on both the penalty kill and the power play. The Bees took 3 out of 4 points in their opening series against the Laredo Bucks. The Bees won Friday night 4-2 and lost in a 3-4 OT Shootout on Saturday. All three Laredo goals during regulation time on Saturday came in the second period when Radke was off the ice getting his skate repaired. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not, but to me it shows just how valuable Radke is to this team.
With only five returning players on the Bees roster, fans are still adjusting to the new team. But rest assured, by the end of the season everyone will know who Kyle Radke is and what it means to have a Sioux Alum on the ice. Go Sioux!! And now Go Bees Go!!
