Southaven, MS - When considering who the impact players have been during the past decade in the Central Hockey League, there's little argument that RiverKings' defenseman Derek Landmesser ranks among the top of the list.
The Central Hockey League supported that assessment in naming Landmesser one of the two starting defensemen in the CHL All-Decade Team, being announced this week by the league office.
Former Indianapolis and Corpus Christi blue liner Bernie John is the other starting defenseman on the all-decade team.
Landmesser has played nine of the 10 seasons in the decade with the RiverKings leaving only for a brief stint in the United Hockey League (2001-02 with Muskegon). He ranks as the highest scoring blue liner of the decade with 488 points (85-403=488) and is second on among defensemen on the CHL's all-time scoring list trailing only Hardy Sauter.
The six-time all-star was a part of the 2003 RiverKings CHL Championship scoring 10 points (1-9=10) in 14 playoff games. He was also named the 2001 CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman and during his nine years in the league has never scored fewer than 48 points. His best offensive season saw him reach 81 points (17-64=81), 2005-06. He ranks 25th on the league's all-time points list and 10th on the all-time assist list.
