CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Kaminski Released, Gardner Hired as New RiverKings Coach

Published on December 14, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced that Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski has been released from his position and has been replaced by Paul Gardner.

"We needed to move in a different direction," said RiverKings Director of Business Operations Ab Mattice, "and we think our fans deserve better than what has been produced the past two years."

The 54 year old Gardner brings playing and coaching experience at several levels of professional hockey to the Mid-South. Most recently, he has been coaching in the German Elite League (DEL) at Hamburg, and before that in the Russian Super League (KHL) at Yaroslavl.

From 2008 to this past April at Hamburg, Gardner had been head coach and assistant sports director, taking a 14th place team the previous year to an eighth place finish, then leading the Freezers to the second round of the league playoffs.

Prior to that, Gardner was with the Nashville Predators for seven seasons from 1997-2004. He spent five seasons as an assistant coach for the Preds and two more as a professional scout for the NHL team. In his first year in Nashville, he scouted extensively in preparation for the team's inaugural season.

From 1990 to 1997, Gardner was with the Washington Capitals organization as an assistant coach for the Portland Pirates AHL affiliate for five seasons and for two seasons as the head professional scout for the Capitals. During his time in Portland, Gardner's teams were the 1994 AHL Calder Cup champions and the 1996 AHL Eastern Conference champions.

Gardner's coaching background also includes four seasons as head coach and assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Newmarket Saints, one season as assistant coach with the Maple Leafs, and one season as player/assistant coach with the Rochester Americans in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

As a player, Gardner's career encompasses 447 games with the Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Rockies. Between 1976 abd 1986, Gardner scored 201 goals for 402 points.

Among his accomplishments, Gardner was the 1977 Colorado Rockies Rookie of the Year, 1981 Pittsbugh Penguins Unsung Hero, was the AHL's leading scorer and Most Valuable Player in 1985 and 1986, and was named in 1992 to the "All Time American Hockey League Team." Gardner was also named as co-coach of the AHL All-Star Team in 1995.

Gardner is confident he can make the RiverKings a winning team. "Coming in to take over for coaches is sometimes a difficult thing, but I'm very excited about the opportunity to come here," he said.

He added that his teams will be making things happen on the offensive side of the ice. "You've got to play solid defense in any game that you play so we'll make sure we're trained to do that, but I don't like to sit back at all. I like to try and take the play to the other team and be aggressive in the offensive zone," Gardner said.

The new RiverKings coach's hockey pedigree goes back to his father Cal, who won two Stanley Cup championships in a 12-year career spent in the 1940's and 50's with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins. Paul's brother David also played in the NHL for five different teams and then continued his career in Europe.

Paul and his wife, Sherri, will be moving into the area from their home in Franklin, Tennessee with their two youngest of five children.

RIVERKINGS UPCOMING EVENTS

Today, members of the RiverKings will be on hand for a Christmas "Meet and Greet" at Pecan Grove Apartments in Walls. The complex is located at 7320 State Highway 161 North, north of Goodman Road in Walls. Hours for the Meet and Greet are from 6-8 PM. For more information on Pecan Grove Apartments, log onto the Pecan Grove Apartments web site .

Also today, the RiverKings will be involved in a RadioThon for Toys For Tots on the team's flagship station, Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. The RadioThon will take place during the entire day, from 6 AM to 6 PM from Humdinger's Restaurant, at Poplar and Massey in Memphis. The RiverKings will be on the air during the afternoon Sports Bar program between 3 and 6 PM.

Friday, December 17th is Monster Nation Night, when the RiverKings host the Evansville IceMen at 7:05 PM. Monster Nation is a high-impact, family friendly motorsports event you won't want to miss, when it comes to the DeSoto Civic Center on January 7th and 8th. Ticket vouchers will be given away to the DeSoto Civic Center Monster Nation event to the first 100 fans in the building that night. Other Monster Nation prizes will be given away as well during the game.

Friday will also be another Season Ticket Redemption Night, when unused season tickets up to that night's game can be exchanged for extra tickets for Friday's contest. Season ticket exchanges can only be done through the DeSoto Civic Center box office prior to the Friday game with the IceMen.

Tuesday, December 21st, the Mississippi RiverKings invite you to celebrate the holidays early when the Bloomington PrairieThunder. One child age 12 and under will be admitted free with an adult paid admission to that night's game between the RiverKings and PrairieThunder. The limit is one child per each paid adult admission of equal or lesser value. It's another great way to bring out the family to watch your hometown hockey team in action and save money at the same time. The offer is available for the December 21st game only and only available at the DCC box office during their office hours.

Wednesday, December 22nd is an Away Game Watch Party at the Southaven Buffalo Wild Wings, 7188 Airways Boulevard, north of Goodman Road. Fans will be able to come watch the CHL-TV broadcast of the game on the big screen, when the RiverKings travel to Bloomington to play the PrairieThunder.

For RiverKings ticket information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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