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River Otters Announce Roster for 2002-2003 Season

October 9, 2002 - United Hockey League (UHL)
Missouri River Otters News Release


Head coach/director of hockey operations Mark Reeds of the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League (UHL) announced today that the 2002-2003 regular season team roster is set for their opening game in Elmira, NY on Friday, October 11.

Unlike 2001-2002 when just two players returned from the previous year, the River Otters boast 11 returnees from last season. They include: wingers Lonnie Loach, Joe Ritson, Jason Gudmundson and Marty Melnychuk; centers Dustin Whitecotton and Charlie Blyth; and defensemen Doug Searle, Jason Hughes, Kevin Chabbert and Vaclav Pazourek; and goaltender Brian Regan. Goaltender Aaron Vickar, a St. Louis native, retired earlier this week.

Loach is just 15 points from 1,000 on North American soil during the regular season. He ranked second on the team in goals (35), game-winning goals (T-5), assists (T-49), points (84) and plus/minus (T-+10) in 2001-2002.

Whitecotton was named to the 2001-2002 UHL Postseason All-Star Team and was also named the UHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player. He ranked fifth in the UHL in scoring and led the River Otters in every respective offensive category last season – goals (37), power play goals (T-14), assists (58), points (95), multi-point games (27) and plus/minus (+15). He is signed to a two-way contract with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins, for whom he scored one goal in eight games.

In 2001-2002, Whitecotton and his linemates – wingers Joe Ritson and Jason Gudmundson – accounted for 35.3 percent of the team's offense with 252 points (100g, 152a). Ritson led the team in game-winning goals (6), power play goals (T-14) and shots (282) last season; he ranked fourth on the team in goals (31), points (77) and multi-point games (T-22). Gudmundson ranked third in goals (32), power play goals (10) and points; he ranked fourth in assists (48) and shots (223).

Tough man Marty Melnychuk, one of the reigning UHL heavyweights, returns to the fold after amassing 115 penalty minutes (PIM) in just 26 games; he was acquired in a mid-season trade with Adirondack.

Center Charlie Blyth, who notched 26 points (8g, 18a) with 113 penalty minutes, returns after leading the team's checking line last season.

The team's defensive unit returns four backliners that are 6-foot-3 or taller. Doug Searle and Jason Hughes were a combined +27 in 17 games after arriving in a late February trade from Knoxville. Searle also posted 11 points (4g, 7a) during that time. Kevin Chabbert (45gp – 11a) and Vaclav Pazourek (39gp – 12pts) are also back. The 2001-2002 River Otters defense averages nearly 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds.

Significant 2002-2003 newcomers include: center Riley Nelson, a third-year center/left wing, who notched 70 points (37g, 33a) in 65 games with Knoxville in 2001-2002 and was named Team MVP; center Joey Bastien, who ranked sixth among UHL rookies in scoring with 54 points (22g, 32a) in 63 games between Flint and Port Huron in 2001-2002; and defenseman Henrik Melinder, who spent his first three professional seasons in Sweden's first division, the Allsvenskan, which is the qualification league for the Elitserien (Swedish Elite League).

The team's defense is rounded out by the aforementioned Melinder and rookies Guillaume Karrer and Claude Amstutz. Amstutz and rookie goaltender Chris Taylor, who played in Central Junior "A" Hockey League (CJHL) with Brockville and Lanark last year, made the team after coming to camp as two of six invitees from the River Otters Evaluation Camp, which was held in association with the World Junior Hockey League (WJHL) just outside of Toronto in early August.

There are two other rookies that made the team – Center Brent Sullivan and right winger Andy Burnham. Sullivan spent the majority of last year with the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior "A" Hockey League (MJAHL), for whom notched 48 points (19g, 29a) in 39 games with 209 PIM. Burnham, who was selected by the River Otters in the second round (25th overall) in the 2001 UHL North American Amateur Draft, did not play last season due to injury.

There are 19 players on the roster, 17 skaters (10 forwards & seven defensemen) and two goaltenders. There are three veterans and four rookies.

The team's season opener is this Friday, October 11, as they take on the defending Eastern Conference Champion Elmira Jackals at the Coach USA Center. Game time is 6:00 p.m. The River Otters home opener is Saturday, October 19 vs. Rockford IceHogs. River Otters season tickets are available by calling 636.946.0003. Ask about our specially-priced season ticket packages; some include free parking.



United Hockey League Stories from October 9, 2002


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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