Captain Back for RiverKings

(DeSoto Times) The leader of the Mississippi RiverKings will be back on the ice for the Central Hockey League team when the puck drops this season at the DeSoto Civic Center. The team announced on Wednesday that captain Derek Landmesser has been re-signed to a deal that will put him in one of the four veteran slots available by league rules. Each CHL team is allowed to have four veterans on their 18-man regular season roster.

Announced CHL Player Signings for 2007-2008

"We are thrilled to have Derek back for next season," said RiverKings head coach and director of hockey operations Kevin McClelland. He is obviously one of the elite players in the league and he is a great leader for this club both on and off the ice."

Landmesser, 32, is a 6-1, 200-pound defenseman who has anchored the team with his steady and dependable play for six seasons. The Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada native is the lone remaining player who was a part of the RiverKings' President Cup teams.

In the latter stages of his pro career of 11 ears, Landmesser hasn't slowed down, according to his coach. "He still makes big plays for us and has been out there on the ice giving it all he has all the times," said McClelland.

Landmesser played in 59 games for the RiverKings in 2000-01 and then played in 63 in 2002-03; 64 in 2003-04; 59 in 2004-05; 62 in 2005-06; and, 64 last season. During his stint with the RiverKings, Landmesser has scored 66 goals with 303 assists for a total of 369 points.

In his first season with the RiverKings in 2000-01, Landmesser was named the CHL Defenseman of the Year. He has made the league All-Star team during each of his six campaigns with the team.

Landmesser became the RiverKings all-time leading scoring defenseman during the 2004-05 season.

Landmesser left the club in 2001-02 to play 74 games for the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League before returning to the RiverKings ever since. He was called up to play for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League for three games during the 2005-06 season. Landmesser began his career in 1996 with the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats of the United Hockey League before playing for the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League and the Rockford IceHogs of the United Hockey League from 1998-2000.

McClelland said that the signing of Landmesser is just one of numerous moves that the team is making during a hectic off-season. "We've been busy talking to players and signing players to do what is necessary to take this team to even a higher level and try to bring a Cup back here to the fans and organization that deserve it so much," said McClelland. "We are working to have a strong nucleus back from last year's team while also brining in some new players to our camp when it starts on Oct. 8. We are looking at bringing in about 24 players to camp."

McClelland guided the team back to the CHL playoffs last season where they lost in the Northern Conference Finals to Colorado.

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