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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Parsons Jersey Retirement Ceremony Set For March 13th

February 20, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- Having your jersey number retired ranks as one of the greatest recognitions of past accomplishments a sports franchise can give one of its athletes.

The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League are about to give that recognition to just the second player in team history.

March 13th has been set as the date for the retirement of the number "13" jersey worn by all-time scoring leader Don Parsons. The RiverKings are scheduled to play the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs that night in a 7:05 PM contest at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.

It will be just the second jersey number retired in franchise history, set to join Scott Brower's number "31" in the rafters of the DeSoto Civic Center, the RiverKings home rink in Southaven, Mississippi.

As part of the pre-game ceremony, a video chronicling Parsons' career highlights will be shown, followed by the unveiling of the jersey number being retired. A VIP reception in Parsons' honor will take place prior to the pre-game ceremonies.

RiverKings Director of Business Operations Ab Mattice said, "It is a privilege to be able to do this for Donny. While with the RiverKings, he did a lot for the team both on and off the ice. He was a good leader and a great guy to be around. He is very deserving of this honor of his number being retired."

The list of accomplishments by Parsons over his hockey career is a long one, but topped by the fact that the Boston, Massachusetts native is the all-time goal scoring leader in minor professional hockey. Parsons reached the 678 goal plateau with a goal in a game last season for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the International Hockey League.

Parsons also holds the record for goals scored by an American-born professional hockey player, eclipsing the 622 goals scored by Joe Mullen when Parsons played for the Quad City Mallards in 2007. But, as a member of the RiverKings, Parsons rewrote the Memphis/Mississippi record book. The vast majority of those marks remain as franchise records today.

Parsons is the all-time leader in points for the RiverKings (522) and goals scored (290). He holds the franchise mark for goals scored in one season (57), and points in a season (113).

Parsons scored 14 playoff goals in both the 2002 and 2003 Ray Miron President's Cup playoffs, leading the RiverKings to back-to-back Central Hockey League championships. In winning the 2002 league title, Parsons also assisted on 13 goals for 27 points.

At the league level, Parsons was a two-time CHL Most Valuable Player, was the Playoff MVP in 2002, and league scoring champion in 2001. He was the CHL Man of the Year in 2004 and was on the 2005 all-CHL team as a forward.

Parsons played in CHL All-Star games during each of his six years with the RiverKings, scoring eight goals and adding six assists in his appearances.

While Parsons' hockey numbers on the ice speak volumes itself, he also became well known in the Mid-South for his work off the ice.

Parsons helped begin the Jr. StreetKings youth roller hockey program at the Hernando Civic Center, part of Hernando Youth Sports sponsored by the Maddox Foundation in Hernando. The program gives youngsters the opportunity to enjoy a hockey experience on in-line skates, learn about working together as a team, and the skills ice hockey players use.

He also placed his name on a program called "Parsons' Pledge." Parsons started the endowed fund as a goals-for-charity program in honor of his father, who has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and his daughter Maggy, who was born deaf. Money raised through the fund went to area organizations such as the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, Palmer Home for Children, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The RiverKings are next in action tonight in Colorado. Game time tonight is at 8:05 PM Central time.

Following a Tuesday night contest in Missouri, Mississippi returns home to play the Wichita Thunder on Friday, February 26th at 7:05 PM.

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

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