RIVERKINGS SIGN GOALTENDER STERLING
Familiar name returns to Mississippi to tend goal

SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The latest player name to be announced by the Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) will be a familiar one for fans of the team, as the RiverKings today (July 29th, 2010) have announced the signing of goaltender Larry Sterling to the team’s roster for the 2010-2011 CHL regular season.  Sterling becomes the eighth signed player announcement for the upcoming season roster and the first goaltender announced by the RiverKings. 

This will be Sterling’s second visit to the Mid-South, after tending net for the RiverKings during the 2006-07 season and four games of the 2007-08 campaign. 

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound goaltender will be familiar to the Central Hockey League and also to the new franchises coming in from the International Hockey League.  Sterling went to the IHL from the RiverKings and had played with the Port Huron Icehawks in that league the past three seasons. 

"Larry brings leadership, intensity, and a "willingness to win and a hate to lose" attitude," says RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski.  "He is the number one goaltender we were looking for last season.  We welcome him back and know he is very excited to be back in the Mississippi area."

A Lake Orion, Michigan native, Sterling, entering his seventh season as a professional, has won over 100 games as a goaltender the past four seasons. Larry says he's looking forward to coming back to the Mid-South. 

"I really enjoyed my time in Memphis and Mississippi and I'm very excited to be coming back," Sterling said.  "I've heard nothing but good things about coach Kaminski and I've known a lot of guys who've played for him.  I think we'll have a good chance to do some good things."

This past season at Port Huron, Sterling was fourth in the IHL in goals-against-average at 2.76.  He tied for third in the IHL for victories (23), fashioned one shutout, and finished in a tie for fourth in the league for save percentage at .912. 

In the playoffs, Sterling posted a 2-1 record in five appearances, a 2.65 GAA, and a save percentage of .921, as the Icehawks were ousted by eventual Turner Cup champion Fort Wayne in a seven-game semi-final series. 

Kaminski labels Sterling as an intense competitor, and the newest RiverKing says the same about himself.  "If you look at my stats and numbers over the last few years, you'll see I'm consistent and I take a lot of pride in playing well and giving my team a chance to win every night,"  Sterling said. 

Career highs for Sterling with Port Huron in the IHL included 27 victories in the 2008-09 season, and a 2.51 GAA in the 2007-08 season.  He posted a .912 save percentage for Port Huron both last year and also in 2007-08. 

Sterling has spent a total of four seasons in the Central Hockey League, the first two with the Fort Worth (now Texas) Brahmas and then the two years with the RiverKings.  His best season in the CHL came as a member of the Memphis RiverKings in 2006-07, when he led the league with 31 victories (31-12-5) and in minutes played (2956). 

Sterling came to the pro ranks after in playing two games with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League, and also appearing with Pittsburgh and Cleveland and Compuware Ambassadors of the North American Hockey League, and Tri-City of the United States Hockey League.