CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Darrell Stoddard To Return To RiverKings

June 3, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


(Southaven, MS) - The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced the signing of forward Darrell Stoddard for the 2009-2010 season. Stoddard returns for his fifth professional hockey season in a RiverKings sweater, having initially joined the roster in the 2005-06 Memphis RiverKings campaign.

"We welcome Stodds back. He has all the tools in his bag," said RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski. "He has the grease and grit. He has good hands and can score along with his toughness."

Last season for the CHL Northeast Division champion RiverKings, the 5 foot, 11 inch Stoddard tallied eight goals and had 19 points with 121 penalty minutes in 46 regular season games. He added two goals and had three points with 17 penalty minutes in eleven playoff appearances. Six of Stoddard's eight regular season goals came on the power play.

Half of Stoddard's eight goals last season came in one period for the RiverKings. In Mississippi's 9-2 victory over Wichita on February 3rd, the Red Deer, Alberta native scored four times in the final period of the RiverKings' victory, marking the first time in over five years the feat had been achieved in the CHL. Two of the four goals in that period came on the power play.

Not one to avoid the physical part of the game, Stoddard's 121 penalty minutes last year placed him third on the roster for time served. He was also third in penalty minutes (165) for the RiverKings in the 2007-08 season, and again in his rookie year of 2005-06 with 184 PIMS.

Kaminski says he'll be expecting big things from Stoddard in the upcoming season. "If he does his homework and gets in great shape over the summer, I believe Stodds can get 20 goals, 40 points and have 200 penalty minutes. I've seen his potential and I believe he can achieve these goals if he puts his mind to it."

Stoddard says he's looking forward to coming back and hopes to hike his statistical numbers this season while on a championship team. "I like it here, it's a great organization and I'm really excited to be coming back," he said. "I'd like to have a better year with more games and fewer injuries. Being gritty is part of my game and I want to keep continuing to do that."

Darrell's best offensive season output as a professional came in his first year with the RiverKings, when he scored 18 goals and had 41 points in 60 contests. The 18 goals placed him fifth on the roster in goal scoring, while his 184 penalty minutes had in third in that category. 11 of his 18 goals were power play goals, he added one shorthanded tally and two goals were game-winners. Stoddard had a four-game point streak of seven points between March 4th and March 11th.

He finished tied for seventh in the CHL for rookie points and was tied for third among league rookies for power play goals. Darrell also led the league's first year players in minor penalties and was fifth among rookies in penalty minutes.

Stoddard's career statistical information can be found at http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=55461.

Season tickets are on sale now for the upcoming season of RiverKings hockey excitement in the Mid-South. Call the RiverKings today at 662-342-1755!



Central Hockey League Stories from June 3, 2009


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