CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings, Coach Sign Three Year Contract

Published on April 21, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Maddox Hockey, Inc, which owns and operates the Mississippi RiverKings professional hockey team, announced today that it has entered into a new three-year contract with Kevin McClelland to serve as Head Coach of the RiverKings.

"We are fortunate to have Coach McClelland reaffirm his commitment to the RiverKings and the northwest Mississippi community with this new contract," said Robin Costa, President of Maddox Foundation. "We brought Coach McClelland here three years ago to put together a winning team. By this time next year, he could well have more victories on the ice than any previous coach of the RiverKings."

McClelland became Head Coach of the RiverKings in 2005. After missing the playoffs in his first season, McClelland and the RiverKings reached the Central Hockey League playoffs in 2006-2007 only to fall to eventual league champion Colorado in the third round. McClelland received the Central Hockey League's Coach of the Year award in 2007 after the RiverKings' 35-point improvement over his initial coaching year.

This past season, the RiverKings again reached the playoffs, but fell to Texas in an abbreviated playoff series. "We played in the toughest division in the league this year," said McClelland. "We had more wins than anyone in the other division in our conference, but ended up being a fifth seed." McClelland's regular season record as the RiverKings head coach is now 100-77-15; he is 9-10 in playoff games.

"I have really enjoyed the past three years with the RiverKings," said McClelland. "My family and I have become very attached to the northwest Mississippi community. It has been very satisfying to work with some great guys on the ice, and to make the playoffs the past two years. It will be even better to work in the coming years to take this team to the finals. Our only goal is to bring home a championship."

David "Ab" Mattice, Director of Business Operations for the RiverKings, praised McClelland's success with the team. "Our mission is to put on a great show for the entire family," said Mattice, "and Coach McClelland's teams have provided some memorable entertainment for hockey fans." Attendance at RiverKings games has rebounded significantly over the past two seasons, a trend Mattice believes will continue to improve.

"We feel that continuity is one key to the success of any program we support," said Mike Ward, Maddox Foundation's Director of Programs, who oversees the Foundation's investments in the team. "Having Coach McClelland remain at the helm of the RiverKings will increase our ability to market the team across the region." The Foundation continues to explore new ways in which nonprofit organizations and businesses in the region can invest in and gain benefits from the RiverKings, according to Ward.

"We use the team to work directly with nonprofits to raise funds, recruit volunteers for community events, and increase the visibility of charitable work in the community," said Ward. "We plan to market new opportunities for nonprofits and our community sponsors later this summer, allowing area businesses access to promotional packages that generate funding for area nonprofits."

Maddox Hockey, Inc. is a for-profit entity supported in part by the Maddox Foundation, an independent private foundation based in Hernando, MS . The Foundation created Maddox Hockey in 2002 as a program related investment, to lessen the burden of the Desoto County government by increasing the viability of the Desoto Civic Center and promoting the long-term economic development of the community. The Foundation now uses the team in a variety of programs that increase investments in area charities and their causes.

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2008


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