RiverKings Claim CHL's President's Cup
Published on April 29, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
With a dramatic Game 5 overtime win on home ice, the Memphis RiverKings have claimed the President's Cup as champions of the Central Hockey League. Michal Stastny's unassisted goal at the 5:48 mark of overtime gave Memphis a 5-4 win over the Austin Ice Bats and clinched the RiverKings' first title in the ten-year history of the franchise. The President's Cup is awarded in recognition of Ray Miron, the CHL's founding father. The RiverKings' four series victories came by a combined five goals, including an empty net goal in Game 3. Time and time again throughout the playoffs, the RiverKings managed to capitalize on key opportunities to earn the championship.
With the 4-1 series victory, Memphis Coach Doug Shedden has now claimed three Central Hockey League championships, following up an extensive National Hockey League playing career with back-to-back titles as coach of the Wichita Thunder in the 93/94 and 94/95 seasons. "You don't get tired of winning," said Shedden. "Every time it gets sweeter."
RiverKing left winger Don Parsons was named the Most Valuable Player of the post-season, completing a remarkable year. Parsons becomes just the second player in combined CHL/WPHL history to receive both regular season and playoff MVP honors, joining Huntsville goaltender Derek Puppa, who first accomplished the rare feat in the 98/99 season. Parsons led the CHL with 54 goals during regular season play, and led all playoff scorers with 14 goals and 13 assists in 16 playoff contests. Parsons was also named to the Northern Conference's starting line-up at the 2002 CHL All-Star Game played February 1st in Corpus Christi, scoring once and adding three assists in a 7-4 victory. "He really is the best player in the league," Austin Coach Brent Hughes said. "He's dominant every shift, he doesn't make mistakes. He does the little things and doesn't try to do it all by himself. He was the best player on the ice for Memphis game in and game out."
The RiverKings potent offence led the CHL in scoring in both the regular season (4.17 goals per game) and in the playoffs (4.00 goals per game), but the club also received outstanding play from veteran goaltender Mark Richards, another strong playoff MVP candidate. Richards earned wins in all 11 Memphis victories while posting a 3.02 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. In the Finals, Richards made numerous critical game-saving stops, frustrating an extremely talented Austin club that out-shot Memphis 194 to 146 in the five-game series.
Tuesday at 7:00 PM, the RiverKings will host a championship celebration at the DeSoto Civic Center. The championship club will be available for autographs and photographs with fans and the President's Cup, followed by a video replay of the clinching game at the NorthCreek golf course.
Central Hockey League 2001/2002 Playoff Recap
CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
North Memphis over Fort Worth 3 Games to 1
Bossier-Shreveport over Oklahoma City 3 Games to 1
South El Paso over Odessa 3 Games to 2
Austin over San Antonio 3 Games to 1
CONFERENCE FINALS
North Memphis over Bossier-Shreveport 4 Games to 3
South Austin over El Paso 4 Games to 2
PRESIDENT'S CUP FINALS
Memphis over Austin 4 Games to 1
Central Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2002
- Doug Frank has heard it all - New Mexico Scorpions
- RiverKings Claim CHL's President's Cup - CHL
- Big weekend for a pair of ex-Thunder coaches - Wichita Thunder
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