The RiverKings have their first exhibition game tonight at the DCC.  And be sure to check out my photos, and the occasional babbling over at Memphis Sport Magazine’s section dedicated to the RiverKings, RiverKings Things.

I’ve got photos from the game and photos of the band (not many) up over at MidSouth Photos.

We’re playing Clarksdale, in Clarksdale, so I’ve got a little bit of a road trip on my hands.

I don’t think I’ll shoot tonight.  I just want to enjoy the game.

I’ve got some photos up of the team and the band over at my flickr site.  I didn’t get too many of the band, since I stayed on the visitor’s side during half-time.  

Tonight we head over to DeSoto Central, wish us luck!

For the football fans out there.  And in case you missed the game Friday night (shame on you), Hernando won!  You can see all my football shots on my flickr page.

A forward with a wealth of top-level major junior hockey experience and a brief bit of professional hockey time mixed in will add his talents to the Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) this season. RiverKings’ Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski announced the signing of right winger Barry Horman for the 2008-09 season.

Horman’s pro hockey experience includes 26 games with the CHL champion Arizona Sundogs last season, before becoming an unrestricted free agent in late March. During his time in Arizona, Horman scored three goals and added six assists with 24 penalty minutes in 26 games.

Barry’s other pro experience came in the playoffs with the old Lubbock Cotton Kings of the CHL at the end of the 2004-05 season, where he contributed one assist and four penalty minutes in two playoff games.

Prior to turning professional, the Victoria, British Columbia, Canada native’s major junior experience started in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Spokane Chiefs, Everett Silvertips and the Swift Current Broncos. Horman also played three seasons of Canadian collegiate hockey at the University of Calgary.

Horman was a part of Everett’s initial season in the WHL, when the Silvertips reached the championship finals before being ousted by Medicine Hat. That year, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound winger scored 15 goals and registered 22 assists in 72 games. He added four goals and eight points in 21 playoff tilts.

Horman is excited about being a part of the RiverKings’ organization and playing a full CHL season this year. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about the organization and Kevin Kaminski. I’m looking forward to being a big part of the team this year and, hopefully, put some wins up on the board.”

Kaminski says, “Barry Horman will bring high energy, we look for him to be a leader in every aspect of the game, he’s played at a high level of University and got his feet wet at the pro level. He needs to be the “sparkplug” and contribute in every way!”

See you at the football field!

RIVERKINGS TAB FORMER KILLER BEE STASTNY

After a brief foray into the Central Hockey League last season with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, forward Dan Stastny is looking to make his CHL stay in Mississippi a much more lasting experience. Stastny has been signed to play for the RiverKings this season, according to Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski.

Stastny (no relation to the famous NHL Stastny family) jumped into the professional ranks with the Killer Bees last season, but played in only seven games. He earned an assist on the eventual game-winning goal in his first pro appearance against Corpus Christi on October 19th.

The Roselle, Illinois native played three seasons of college hockey at Robert Morris College in suburban Chicago and was offered a try-out with Rio Grande Valley prior to the start of last season. In his collegiate career, Stastny played in 72 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 23 assists for a total of 39 points with 68 penalty minutes.

Kaminski likes the up tempo energy that the 6-foot-4, 200 pound Stastny brings to the ice. “Dan is a very versatile player who is willing to do anything at any price,” Kaminski says. “He loves to hit, scrap and has good hands to chip in offensively. He’s a high energy guy who can do everything well. We look for him to fit into the gritty, greasy style of the RiverKings.”

Dan says he’s “pumped and excited” to be continuing his CHL career in Mississippi under Kaminski, and adds he’ll bring that excitement to the rink each time out. “I’m a power forward who will bring good size and good speed to the ice each night,” Stastny said.

MARGESON RETURNS TO RIVERKINGS AS NEW ROSTER ADDITION

(Southaven, MS) — Long time RiverKings’ fans will remember the name Steve Margeson, and they’ll hear it again with the “good guys” this season. RiverKings’ Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski has signed the big defenseman to the roster for the upcoming CHL campaign, which begins October 17th at home against the Wichita Thunder.

Steve played four seasons for the Memphis RiverKings, beginning in the 2002-03 year when he was obtained in a trade from the New Mexico Scorpions. The Banff, Alberta, Canada native played the entire 2006-07 season under Kaminski with the Youngstown SteelHounds and started last season with the ‘Hounds, before being called up to the American Hockey League with the Lake Erie Monsters.

The CHL career totals for the six-foot-two, 210 pound blue liner feature 23 goals and 73 points in 223 career games with New Mexico, Memphis, and Youngstown. His best CHL season came with Youngstown, where he scored 17 goals, had 39 points, and was a plus-21. Three goals were power play goals and one was a game-winner.

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