CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Sign Ryan Petersen

Published on September 8, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today (September 8th, 2010) announced the signing of forward Ryan Petersen to the roster for the 2010-2011 regular season. He becomes the 19th player signing announcement by the RiverKings during the 2010 off-season.

Petersen comes to the RiverKings for his first pro season after completing a four-year college career in 2009 at St. Norbert College, an NCAA Division III hockey power in De Pere, Wisconsin, a suburb of Green Bay. This past season, Petersen served as an assistant coach at Lawrence University, a Midwest College Hockey Association (MCHA) school in nearby Appleton, Wisconsin.

RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski says there's a lot of desire in Petersen's 5-foot-8, 175 pound frame. "Ryan brings leadership and determination. He's only 5' 8" but plays with his heart and he likes to play ‘5 o'clock hockey' (playing in traffic). He finishes every check hard and takes the puck hard to the net to pay the price to score goals. With his leadership abilities, he should become a very good pro hockey player."

During his career with the Green Knights, the native of North St. Paul, Minnesota scored 34 goals and added 39 assists for 73 points in 120 contests. During that time, St. Norbert won one NCAA Division III national title as a junior and finished second in his freshman year.

Willing to take on leadership responsibilities on the ice, Petersen was named team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. Wearing the "C", Petersen led the Green Knights in his junior year to a record of 27-1-4, winning conference and national championships. After the third game of Petersen's junior year, St. Norbert did not lose a game the remainder of the season, including a 2-0 shutout victory over Plattsburgh State in the national championship game.

Petersen scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the national quarterfinal game, a victory that sent the Green Knights to the Division III Frozen Four.

As a senior, Petersen again served as team captain, as St. Norbert finished fourth in the NCHA with a record of 19-8-1. During his final college campaign, Ryan netted five goals for 17 points in 28 appearances. The total included three power play goals, one shorthanded tally, and one game-winning goal.

Other career highlights for Petersen at the Wisconsin school include being named an NCHA All-Academic Team member both in 2008 and 2009, winner of the school's "Hardest Worker Award" at the end of both his junior and senior seasons, and being named the team's "Most Improved Player" at the end of his freshman season in 2006.

Petersen believes RiverKings fans will like what they see from him. "I definitely have offensive and defensive awareness, but what you'll see is a hard-nosed player," Ryan said. "I wear my heart on my sleeve and I'll do anything, whether that be to block shots, make a hit, or do whatever needs to be done; the little things that win hockey games."

Prior to his college career, Petersen competed in the United States Hockey League with the Green Bay Gamblers and Sioux City Musketeers. Starting first for four games in 2003 with Sioux City and then moving to Green Bay in the middle of that initial junior hockey season, Ryan played in a total of 103 USHL games, scored nine goals for 29 points and 30 penalty minutes.

The Mississippi RiverKings are about to embark on the team's 19th season of professional hockey in the Mid-South. Pre-season action at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven is scheduled for Saturday, October 9th at 6:05 PM and Sunday, October 10th at 3:05 PM. The home opener is Saturday, October 16th against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at 7:05 PM. For RiverKings ticket information, visit www.riverkings.com or call 662-342-1755 today!

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 8, 2010


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