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ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades Sign Defenseman Cleve Kinley

September 8, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - Florida Everblades president and general manager Craig Brush along with head coach Malcolm Cameron announced the signing of defenseman Cleve Kinley today for the 2009-10 season. Kinley becomes the 15th player signed by Florida for the upcoming season.

The 25-year-old defenseman played for coach Malcolm Cameron in his rookie season in 2007-08 in Texas. During that year, he set professional career highs in games played (60), goals (6), assists (28) and points (34). He also averaged over a point a game in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 2008, scoring five goals and 13 points in just nine games, while picking up 10 penalty minutes. Kinley also appeared in 10 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2007-08 season chipping in two assists and two penalty minutes.

The Surrey, British Columbia native says the Everblades history and coach Cameron drew him to Southwest, Florida, "The Everblades reputation is well known in the hockey world. They have a great program there and I felt comfortable playing for coach Cameron and playing with some of the other players that signed with the team this year."

Last season, Kinley spent time with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, scoring four goals and adding 24 assists for 28 points with a career high 74 minutes in penalties. He appeared in 14 Kelly Cup Playoff games and nearly averaged a point a game tallying 11 points (3g, 8a) and 8 penalty minutes. In addition, the 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman appeared in seven games with the AHL's Springfield Falcons where he was held scoreless.

Coach Malcolm Cameron said he is happy to be reunited with Kinley, "Cleve is a solid two-way defenseman. He brings American Hockey League experience with him and a true passion for winning. He is a very intelligent player on the ice that always seems to make the right decision."

Professionally, Kinley has appeared in 126 games in three leagues. He has scored 10 markers, 56 assists for 66 points with 143 penalty minutes. His amateur career began in 2000 in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Powell River Kings. In 2003, he attended Hockey East's UMass-Lowell where he spent the next four season. In 137 games, Kinley scored 15 goals, 50 assists for 65 points and 116 penalty minutes.

Kinley will attend the Everblades AHL affiliate Rochester Americans training camp in late September.

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