SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Central Hockey League's Mississippi RiverKings today (November 12th) announced the signing of goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy (pronounced peh-CHUR-skee) to the team's roster.  In addition, Mississippi also announced it will place goaltender Larry Sterling on the 10-day injured reserve list. 

Pechurskiy, a native of Magnitogorsk, Russia, last played for the Tri-City Americans of the major junior Western Hockey League before being released earlier this year.

In three games with the Americans this season, Alexander fashioned a 2-0-1 record, a 3.60 goals-against-average, and a save percentage of .861.  Pechurskiy also played 27 games with the Ams the previous season, after starting the year with his home town team in Russia. 

Pechurskiy earned a 13-10-1 record last year, a 2.61 goals-against-average, and had a save percentage of .912.  He played in seven playoff games last season for the Washington state-based club, where he posted a 1-2 record, .909 save percentage, and a 2.95 goals-against-average.

Pechurskiy came to Tri-City as a first-round draft choice of the Americans in the 2009 CHL Import Draft. 

The fifth-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (number 150 overall) also played part of one game on an amateur contract for the Penguins last January.  Pechurskiy was called into service mid-way through a 5-2 loss by the Penguins to the Canucks in Vancouver.  He went on to make 12 saves, allowed just one goal, and earned the number three star of the game. 

By his appearance in the contest, Pechurskiy became the first Russian-born player to play for the Penguins. 

In addition to his time with the Americans, Pechurskiy has had success at the international level playing for his native Russia.  Alexander won a silver medal in the 2008 Under-18 World Junior Championships with a 3.06 goals-against-average, a save percentage of .885 and was named one of the top three players on the team. 

In the same tournament one year prior in 2007, the Russian national team won a goal medal, with Alexander getting a 3.92 GAA and a .861 save perecentage in three appearances. 

Penguins' official Tom Fitzgerald looks forward to watching their prospect grow in the RiverKings system, noting, "We are pleased that Alex will continue to grow and develop as a player in the Central Hockey League with the Mississippi RiverKings." 

The addition of Pechurskiy comes as the RiverKings will place Sterling on the ten-day injured reserve list following an injury he sustained during Tuesday night's home loss to Evansville.  Sterling has a 3-2-0 record, 2.95 goals-against-average, and a .895 save percentage.