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Riley Nelson Named CHL's Most Valuable Player

March 28, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


TEMPE, AZ (March 28, 2011) - The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Riley Nelson of the Colorado Eagles has been named the recipient of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League Most Valuable Player award.

The MVP honor is ‚¬Ëœpresented annually to the Central Hockey League player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team' and is determined through balloting of CHL coaches, communications staff members and selected media members in CHL markets.

Nelson earned votes on 25 of 60 ballots winning the award comfortably over Missouri's Robby Nolan who finished second in the voting with 15 votes. Nelson and Nolan were joined by Rapid City's Ryan Menei, Odessa's Sebastien Thinel and Allen's Colton Yellow Horn as finalists on the MVP ballot.

2010-11 CHL Scoring Leaders

In his eighth season with the Eagles, Nelson was recently recognized in the CHL's annual ‚¬ËœBest of the Best' poll (voting done among players and staff members on all 18 CHL teams) as the league's ‚¬ËœBest Overall Player", an honor he has earned each of the last three seasons.

During the 2010-11 campaign, the Cranbrook, British Columbia native finished fourth in the league in scoring with 93 points (34-59"), the second highest point total in his 11-year professional career (2009-10 he scored 94 points). Showing his great two-way ability, Nelson led the league this season with a +40 plus/minus rating.

Nelson earned several honors during the season including the Sher-Wood CHL Player of the Month for October and the Oakley CHL Player of the Week (January 24-30). Earlier in March, the 5-10, 190-pound forward earned a spot on the All-CHL Team for the third consecutive season.

A part of two Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Champion teams with the Eagles, Nelson ranks among the all-time leaders in CHL history ranking sixth on the all-time points list (730), seventh on the all-time goals list (285) and ninth on the all-time assists list (445).

Nelson becomes the third Eagles player to earn the MVP award joining Greg Pankewicz (2005) and Kevin Ulanski (2010).

CHL Most Valuable Player Award (previous winners, since 2001)

2010-11 - Riley Nelson (Colorado)

2009-10 - Kevin Ulanski (Colorado)

2008-09 - Sebastien Thinel (Odessa)

2007-08 - Jeff Bes (Laredo)

2006-07 - Jeff Christian (Youngstown)

2005-06 - Derek Hahn (Amarillo)

2004-05 - Greg Pankewicz (Colorado)

2003-04 - Jeff Bes (Laredo)

2002-03 - Don Parsons (Memphis)

2001-02 - Don Parsons (Memphis)

2011 CHL Awards that have already been announced are:

CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year - George Bullock, Jr, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

CHL Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year - Romeo Vivit, Rapid City Rush

CHL All-Rookie Team - Adam Chorneyko (COL), Aaron Lewicki (RGV), Alan Mazur (BLM), Wayne Savage (TEX), Gary Steffes (TUL) and David Strathman (ALN)

All-CHL Team - Darcy Campbell (RGV), Riley Nelson (COL), Robby Nolan (MIZ), Andrew Martens (WIC), Sebastien Thinel (ODE), Chad Woollard (TEX)

CHL Man of the Year - Simon Watson, Missouri Mavericks

CHL Rookie of the Year - Aaron Lewicki, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

CHL Coach of the Year - Jason Christie, Bloomington PrairieThunder

CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman - Andrew Martens, Wichita Thunder

CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender (Scott Brower Award) - Robby Nolan, Missouri Mavericks

Joe Burton Scoring Champion - Sebastien Thinel, Odessa Jackalopes



Central Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2011


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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