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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Hold On, Held's Back As A RiverKings

September 11, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


(Southaven, MS) --- Another "blast from the past" will return to don a Mississippi RiverKings' sweater this season, as forward Ryan Held has been added to the roster. RiverKings' Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski has announced the addition of Held for the 2009-2010 Central Hockey League (CHL) campaign.

The London, Ontario native joins previously announced signees Ryan Campbell and Steve Makway as players who were former RiverKings now returning after a year's absence to be part of this year's team.

Held says he's happy to be coming back. "One of the big reasons why I decided to come back to the RiverKings was the great fans and some of the players I already know who are down there and the area in general."

Last season, the 29-year old Held was a teammate of Campbell on the Italy Series A2 champion Vipiteno Broncos, finishing with a total of 25 goals and 65 points to go with 52 penalty minutes in 32 games.

Kaminski is looking forward to have someone of Held's caliber on his roster. "He won a championship last year and we look to have that experience helping bring one back to the Mid-South," Kaminski said. "This really solidifies our top six forwards; it's great to have him back in a RiverKings' jersey."

In his first season with the RiverKings, Held finished in a tie for fifth in goals scored with 19 and added 18 assists for 37 points in the 2006-07 campaign. Two of Ryan's 19 goals came on the power play, he added two game-winners, and finished the season with 49 penalty minutes. During the 2007 playoffs, Ryan scored two goals and added nine assists for eleven points in 18 appearances with 26 penalty minutes. One of Held's two playoff goals that season was a game-winner as the RiverKings reached the Northern Conference playoff finals.

The next season, Held finished third in points with 63, as he tallied 30 goals and added 33 assists with 56 PIMS. He was tied for second on the roster for goals scored and tied for fourth in assists. Ryan added five power play goals, two shorthanded tallies, and four game-winners during the 2007-08 regular season. In three 2008 playoff appearances, Held added a power play goal and two assists for three points with six penalty minutes.

Kaminski says Held brings several skills to the lineup. "Ryan brings size, speed, skill, and can score big goals," the RiverKings mentor noted. "He will be a presence cycling out of corners and net front. He also plays a great game defensively and gives us a number of options being able to play either wing or center."

Held hopes to put points up and make his line mates that much better. "I'm kind of a play-making forward who can put the puck in the net. I tend to get a lot of power play points and stuff like that, so that's something else that I can bring to the table."

The ninth round draft selection of the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft began his pro career in the Netherlands with the Galeen Smoke Eaters in 2006. He also has four years of Canadian collegiate hockey at the University of Western Ontario and has time spent in the major junior Ontario Hockey League at Kitchener, Sault Ste. Marie, and in his home town of London. His career statistics can be found on line at http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=31737.

Season tickets are available for another exciting season of RiverKings hockey at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, beginning Friday, October 16th against the Tulsa Oilers, and starting at 7:05 PM. Call and reserve your season tickets now at 662-342-1755.



Central Hockey League Stories from September 11, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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