Southaven, MS - The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League have announced the signing of Derek Landmesser for the upcoming 2008-09 season. Landmesser becomes the first signing under new RiverKings' coach Kevin Kaminski.
This past season with the RiverKings, the native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada played in all 64 regular season games and also in all three playoff contests, totaling 50 points on eight goals and 42 assists during the regular season. In the playoffs, the RiverKings' team captain chipped in a pair of assists as the 'Kings were eliminated in the first round by Texas in three games.
Landmesser began his CHL career with the Memphis RiverKings in the 2000-01 season, scoring seven goals and 41 assists for 48 points, then adding two goals and seven points in the playoffs. After a year with Muskegon (2001-02, UHL), Derek returned to Memphis to become an integral part of a 2002-03 championship campaign.
Landmesser produced 13 goals and 44 assists for 57 points during the regular season, followed by a ten-point playoff effort (one goal, nine assists), as the RiverKings won the Ray Miron President's Cup championship with a five-game victory over Austin, climaxed by a 4-3 overtime clincher in game five.
In the 2005-06 season, Landmesser scored 81 points (17 goals, 64 assists). The points and assists were the most by a CHL defenseman that season and the 81 points were the most by a league blue-liner since Bernie John had 85 for Indianapolis in 2000-01.
The points total also set a new RiverKings' single-season record for point production by a defenseman.
Landmesser has earned several awards during his career. He was on the 2007 all-CHL team as a defenseman, and again in 2005 and 2006. Derek was also the CHL's most outstanding defenseman in 2001.
New RiverKings' coach Kevin Kaminski is looking forward to utilizing Landmesser's inherent abilities on the ice. "Derek brings leadership, a strong work ethic, grit, and is a great asset on the special teams. He has great vision on the power play and very good anticipation on the penalty kill. I look forward to coaching him instead of coaching against him.
In the off-season, Derek is active in the Mid-South area with the Jr. StreetKings street hockey programs, helping DeSoto County youngsters learn more about the game at an outdoor, covered rink located in Hernando.
