Laredo, TX - The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced at a press conference Thursday that they have re-signed All-Star defenseman Adam Rivet for the upcoming 2008-09 season, his fourth year with the team. The announcement was made to the media and a large number of fans at the LNB Plaza Building in downtown Laredo.
Rivet has earned several individual honors thus far in his professional career. He was a finalist for last seasons Most Outstanding Defenseman award, in addition to being a 2007 CHL All-Star, Rivet was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team 2005-06, and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year in that same season, helping lead the Bucks to their second CHL Championship.
"Rivs is always a priority for us to sign, he's one of our key players", said Bucks Head Coach and General Manager Terry Ruskowski. "He is one of the classiest and most well respected guys that I've ever coached".
In three seasons with the Bucks, Rivet has been a large part of the team's success. In his three previous seasons combined, Rivet has scored 54 goals, with 88 assists, for 142 points, including 20 power-play goals, 42 power-play assists, three short-handed goals, and nine game-winning goals, in 188 games in Laredo. In 48 career playoff games Rivet has tallied seven goals, 27 assists for 34 points, including five power-play goals, 11 power-play assists, and one game winning goal.
"I'm looking forward to playing here in Laredo again, this is a class organization to be a part of", Rivet said. "Our only goal is to win another championship for this City".
Last season Rivet, a native of Fort Erie, Ontario, once again played in all 64 regular season games, scoring 18 goals, with 30 assists, for 48 points. Rivet was a key performer on special teams, as he tallied nine power-play goals, and 12 power-play assists to be named a finalist for the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman award.
During last seasons playoffs Rivet, 6'0, 190 pounds, notched three goals, with 11 assists for 14 points, including one power-play goal, and five power-play assists.
"Adam scores big goals for us, although he is a defenseman. He comes to play every single day, and he has a great attitude", Ruskowski said.
Rivet made headlines while on vacation during the off-season, as he rescued a married couple and an eight-year-old boy who were drowning in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The two rescues came about three hours apart, and earned Rivet some high praise from his coach. "To rescue one person in your life is very rare, but to rescue two people in a span of three or four hours is amazing", Ruskowski commented. "Adam did a great thing that day, I'm very proud of him".
In the 2006-07 campaign Rivet was named to the Southern Conference All-Star Team. He increased his numbers in every category from his rookie year, playing in all 64 games, tallying 20 goals, with 36 assists, for 56 points, including four game-winning goals. He also performed well on special teams, scoring eight power-play goals, with 21 power-play assists. In the 64 games he played in last season, Rivet scored at least a point in 41 of them.
"Two years without winning a title is too long here. We are all anxious to get back at it and try to get back on top", said Rivet.
In his rookie campaign in 2005-06 Rivet was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team, and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year. He played in 60 regular-season games, scoring 16 goals, with 22 assists for 38 points.
"He is very reliable. I know when he's on the ice that he will put every ounce of energy he has into helping us win", said Ruskowski.
"It's great to play here, I can't wait to get back on the ice and try to accomplish our goal", Rivet said.
Prior to turning pro, Rivet, a native of Fort Erie, Ontario, played four years of college hockey at the University of Prince Edward Island (CIS), where he tallied 17 goals, with 57 assists, for 74 points.
