Blanshan Claimed By Rapid City In Expansion Draft
Published on June 13, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League have selected Mississippi RiverKings' defenseman Cody Blanshan in the CHL's expansion draft, held today as part of the league's summer conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Blanshan played this past season with the RiverKings, his first in the CHL. In 63 games with Mississippi, Cody scored two goals and added 18 assists for a total of 20 points. Blanshan was also sixth on the team stat sheet in penalty minutes with 118.
Prior to coming to the RiverKings, the 24-year old Blanshan played professionally with Greenville, Idaho and Wheeling in the ECHL, and played seven games with Norfolk of the AHL in 2005-06. The former eighth-round draft choice (2003 NHL Entry Draft) of the New York Islanders has played 197 professional games with his best season coming in Greenville during the 2005-06 campaign, when he scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points.
The 6-foot-1, 220 pound Blanshan is a native of Eagan, Minnesota and played one season of college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also had junior hockey experience in Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League and Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League.
During today's expansion draft, the Rush were able to select five players from a list of 60 (four players made available from each of the 15 CHL teams returning from last season). The draft provided Rapid City their first chance to add a veteran face to their organization.
As one of the five players selected, the rights to Blanshan now belong to the Rush and they will now begin negotiations toward his possible addition to the Rapid City roster.
Also taken by the Rush in today's expansion draft were forward Garrett Prosofsky of Oklahoma City as the first pick, center Derek LaBlanc of Rocky Mountain as the second selection, followed by Blanshan being chosen. The fourth choice of Rapid City was Wichita forward Mike Lukajic, followed by goaltender Mike Minard of New Mexico being taken as the fifth pick.
However, the Rush then traded Minard to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for future considerations.
Season tickets are available at this time for RiverKings hockey at the Desoto Civic Center. Contact your RiverKings' ticket representative to purchase your tickets or for any inquiries. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.
Central Hockey League Stories from June 13, 2008
- Minard Selected In Expansion Draft - New Mexico Scorpions
- Rage Lose LeBlanc in CHL Expansion Draft - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Citations Against Borsheim Dropped - Colorado Eagles
- Blanshan Claimed By Rapid City In Expansion Draft - CHL
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