CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings add two new faces

Published on August 14, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- Mississippi RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin McClelland announced today that the Central Hockey League club has signed center Aaron Davis and defenseman Cody Blanshan for the 2007-2008 season. These signings bring to 11 the number of players signed so far for the upcoming season. The RiverKings open training camp on Monday, October 8 at the DeSoto Civic Center.

The RiverKings acquired Davis's rights from Austin in the trade that sent defenseman Jason Tessier to the Ice Bats on July 30. The 28-year-old Dearborn Heights, MI native averaged over a point per game with the Ice Bats in 2006-2007 in what was his fourth season in the CHL and second with Austin. In 43 games, the Dearborn Heights, MI native was third on the club in scoring as he totaled 10 goals and 35 assists. His best season was in 2005-2006 when put up 17 goals, 38 assists and 55 points in 61 games.

The six-foot-two, 210 pound Davis started his pro career in the ECHL in 2002-2003 with the Trenton Titans and the Arkansas RiverBlades. After playing two games to start the 2003-2004 campaign in Pensacola, he moved to the CHL with the Fort Worth Brahmas (03-04, 04-05), the Odessa Jackalopes (04-05) and then the Ice Bats (05-06, 06-07). He was a teammate of RiverKings veteran signee Chad Woollard during both of his seasons in Fort Worth and led the Brahmas in overall scoring during the 2003-2004 campaign. His career also includes four seasons of Division I NCAA hockey with Lake Superior State (1999-2003).

Davis' pro totals are: 259 games played; 60 goals; 124 Assists and 184 points.

Blanshan, 23, will be entering his third pro season after splitting last season with the Idaho Steelheads and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. In 68 combined games, the Eagan, MN native totaled four goals, 16 assists and 134 PIM. He also attended the Iowa Stars' (AHL) training camp last season.

He started his pro career by signing an AHL contract with the Norfolk Admirals for the 2005-2006 season. He attended the Chicago Blackhawks' (NHL) training camp that season before playing seven games with the Admirals. He then spent the remainder of the season with the Admirals' ECHL affiliate, Greenville Grrrowl. In 59 games with the Grrrowl, Blanshan led all of the team's defenseman with 12 goals and was second among blueliners with 27 points. He was an eighth round draft choice of the New York Islanders (NHL) in the 2003 entry draft.

Prior to his pro career, Blanshan played a year of junior hockey in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede (2001-2002); a year of college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (2002-2003) followed by two seasons in the Western Hockey (junior) League with the Medicine Hat Tigers(2003-2004 & 2004-2005). He was on the Tigers team that won the President's Cup (Western Hockey League) Championship in 2004.

RIVERKINGS SIGNED PLAYERS FOR 2007-2008

Cody Blanshan D

Ryan Campbell LW

Aaron Davis C

Louis Dumont (vet) C

Ryan Held C

Derek Landmesser (vet) D

Jason Lawmaster (vet) D

Brian Mullally D

David Nimmo C

Dan Riedel F

Chad Woollard (vet) F

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Central Hockey League Stories from August 14, 2007


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