Sports stats



CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Playoffs Start Tonight For RiverKings-Blazers

March 25, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Be a part of the action tonight, when the Mississippi RiverKings begin the playoff portion of the 2008-09 Central Hockey League season tonight, playing game one of the best-of-seven Northern Conference semi-final series against the Oklahoma City Blazers. Game time tonight is at 7:05 PM at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.

This will be the eleventh season in the Central Hockey League post-season for the Mississippi/Memphis RiverKings since the franchise joined the league in the 1992-93 season. In two of the seasons, the Memphis RiverKings won the CHL Ray Miron President's Cup title, claiming back-to-back championships in 2002 and again in 2003. Memphis lost to the Fort Worth Fire in the 1997 finals and lost to the Colorado Eagles in the 2007 Northern Conference finals. Memphis lost in the second round during the 2001 playoff schedule and in the remaining five times the RiverKings were eliminated in the first round.

The overall Mississippi/Memphis playoff record is 52-44, including a 29-19 record on home ice (Mid-South Coliseum and DeSoto Civic Center), and a 23-25 record at enemy venues.

In overtime playoff games, the RiverKings are 10-5, including a 5-2 home mark and a 5-3 record on the road. Of the 19 playoff series the RiverKings have been a part of, they have won ten and lost nine.

Against Oklahoma City, the RiverKings have been stymied by the Blazers in three of the four previous playoff series. This will be the first time the Mississippi RiverKings have played against their long-standing rivals from the Sooner State, however, as the four previous series were played in Memphis RiverKings sweaters.

The RiverKings' record against the Blazers in the playoffs is 9-13. The lone series victory over Oklahoma City came in the 2003 Ray Miron President's Cup championship year, when the RiverKings took a 3-2 series victory in the Northern Conference First Round.

Landmesser to Play in Fifth RiverKings Playoff Season

Mississippi RiverKings' captain and veteran defenseman Derek Landmesser will be playing in his fifth playoff run when he takes the ice against Oklahoma City this week. Landmesser played in seven games of the 2001 playoffs, 14 games of the RiverKings' championship run in 2003, 18 games with the RiverKings in the 2007 post-season, and all three games of last year's playoff appearance against Texas. The 42 appearances is a RiverKings playoff record. Derek is third on the RiverKings all-time playoff list with 37 points and is six points behind Kahlil Thomas (2002-03) at number two. Landmesser is also second all-time in playoff assists at 28, one fewer than Thomas' 29 helpers at number one. Don Parsons (2001-03) is the RiverKings' all-time point-getter in the playoffs at 61 and is tied with Landmesser for second all-time in assists with 28.

Dumont, Nelson Also Veterans to Playoffs

The post-season will also be nothing new for the RiverKings' two other veterans, as Louis Dumont and Jeff Nelson lead the team against Oklahoma City. This will be the third playoff season appearance for Dumont with the RiverKings, bringing a total of 21 CHL playoff games played into the series with the Blazers, however Dumont has seen post-season action in 12 other professional campaigns, all with various teams in the ECHL. Nelson, the team's other veteran, will be making his first CHL playoff appearance, however he has played in 14 other playoff campaigns, including three games of the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs with the NHL's Washington Capitals. Nelson's other playoff time has been in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League, United Hockey League, and in the Italian professional ranks.

Broadcasts

RiverKings hockey is covered in the Mid-South and around the world, primarily on Flinn Broadcasting station Sports 56, WHBQ-AM, with RiverKings Media Coordinator and veteran broadcaster Bob Bakken providing the play-by-play. Broadcast coverage begins 15 minutes before the game's first faceoff. An audio stream of the broadcast is available from the station's web site, www.sports56whbq.com. Fans with a high-speed internet connection can view RiverKings hockey from CHL-TV through a link from the team's official web site, www.riverkings.com. Games not aired on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM due to other programming commitments are heard on fellow Flinn Broadcasting station 96.1 FM "The Pig," WIVG-FM.

Tickets

For information on RiverKings playoff tickets, contact the team's offices at 662-342-1755. New season ticket orders for next season are now being taken and a $75.00 deposit assures you have the edge of your seat at the DeSoto Civic Center for the excitement of RiverKings hockey next season.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 25, 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.

Other Recent Mississippi RiverKings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central