SOUTAHVEN, MS — The Central Hockey League has announced that Memphis RiverKings Head Coach Kevin McClelland has been named the CHL’s Coach of the Year.  The award is the result of peer voting among all Central Hockey League Coaches.

McClelland, in his second season behind the bench for the RiverKings, has guided the team to a 38-16-6 record with four games remaining in the regular season.  The RiverKings have also clinched their first appearance in the playoffs since 2003. 

After finishing with a 22-37-5 record last season, the team’s 82 standings points this season currently put them fourth overall in the CHL.  Along with the improved record, the RiverKings have seen big improvements offensively and defensively this season.  The team is second in the league in goals scored per game with 3.65, up from 9th last season, and eighth in the league in goals against per game at 3.23, up from 15th last season.  The RiverKings are also third currently in fewest shots given up per game with an average of 29.73, up from 7th last season.  

“Mac” played 14 seasons and 588 games in the National Hockey League, winning four Stanley Cup Championships with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988.  Prior to taking over the RiverKings job last season, McClelland was the head coach at the junior level in the Western Hockey League for two seasons and was an assistant for five seasons for the St. John’s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League.