CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Sign Defenseman Russell Smith

Published on September 23, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today (September 23rd, 2010) announced that the team has signed defenseman Russell Smith for the upcoming season. The rights to Smith were received as part of a recent trade made with the Dayton Gems for the rights to defenseman Nathan Schwartzbauer.

Smith, a native of Annapolis, Maryland, comes to the RiverKings after playing for three International Hockey League (IHL) teams last season. The 26-year-old blue-liner played 19 games for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder, 25 games with the now-defunct Muskegon Lumberjacks, and finished the season playing in 29 games with the Dayton Gems. Both Bloomington and Dayton are now members of the CHL. Between the three clubs, Russell scored seven goals and added 16 assists for 23 points during the 2009-2010 IHL campaign.

RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski likes Smith's solid play at the blue line. "Russell will bring size at 6'4" and is a very solid skater," Kaminski said. "He's a guy who keeps on improving and has a great passion and work ethic."

Smith looks forward to tapping in to the success brought to Mississippi by Kaminski, who Smith remembers from the coach's playing days in the NHL. "I'm looking forward to playing for Coach Kaminski," said Smith. "I knew him a little bit when he was playing for the (Washington) Capitals. He has a proven record and I'm looking forward to the season."

Smith also made a trio of stops during the 2008-09 season, finishing in Bloomington after starting the season with the New Mexico Scorpions (CHL) and the Twin City Cyclones of the Southern Professional Hockey League. During the season, Russell scored six goals and added 23 assists for 29 points between the three stops. In addition, he spent a significant time in the penalty box, serving a career professional high of 118 minutes in 32 games with Twin City and another 103 minutes in 33 games with the Prairie Thunder.

Russell started his pro career in seven games with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL in 2008, earning one assist in the final seven games of that regular season. He played in five post-season games, being tagged with four PIMS, but failing to score. Kaminski feels Smith also brings some versatility to play in special teams and at even strength. "He keeps the game simple and is willing to keep learning and improving his game," said Kaminski. "Russell should excel with the systems that we run in Mississippi. He has great instincts in the defensive zone and should be a big part of our penalty kill."

Russell adds he's looking to have a stifling effect on opposing forwards this season. "I'm more of a physical defensive defenseman with an offensive upside," Smith notes. "My success has come in being able to shut guys down and sticking up for my teammates when need be."

His pro career started after a four-year career finished in 2008 with Elmira College, an NCAA Division III school based in New York State. With the Soaring Eagles, Smith scored 14 goals, assisted on 45 assists, and tallied 59 points in 91 appearances and was tagged with 84 penalty minutes. Smith was Elmira College's Most Improved Player in his senior season (2008) and was named to the 2007-08 All-ECAC West Second Team at the end of the year. During his college career, Smith played in two NCAA-III Frozen Fours, in his sophomore and senior seasons.

Russell's hockey background also includes time spent playing for two teams in the Eastern Junior Hockey League before embarking on his college and now professional hockey career.

The RiverKings are about to embark on the team's 19th season of hometown professional hockey in the Mid-South with the home opener on Saturday, October 16th against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. For ticket information, call the RiverKings at 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2010


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