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Not "Lacking" For Determination, Lackner Re-Signs With RiverKings

August 20, 2010

Steady blue liner comes back for third season in the Mid-South

SOUTHAVEN --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced the signing of defenseman Andrew Lackner for the upcoming season. 

Lackner becomes the 14th player announced by the RiverKings in the off-season, the fourth defenseman announced, and the sixth returning player from last season named.

Mississippi RiverKings head coach and director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski looks forward to tapping into Lackner's consistent and experienced play. 

"He's a guy who's been around our program for two years now, and knows what it takes and demands to sacrifice his body within our systems," Kaminski said.  "He plays power play and penalty kill, blocks shots and keeps it simple and has become a quiet leader.  We look for him to be one of our anchors at the blue line this season." 

Lackner will be starting his third season with the RiverKings and will be in his seventh year as a professional.  Last season, the native of Elmira, Ontario, Canada, played in 55 games for the RiverKings, scored three goals, 19 assists, and had 22 points to go with 55 penalty minutes.  He added one assist in three playoff games with the RiverKings last season.

The 19 assists were a career professional high for the six-foot, 195-pound left-handed shot.  One season prior, in 2008-09, Lackner netted a career-high seven goals and also finished with 22 points, as the RiverKings won the CHL Northeast Division championship and reached the Northern Conference playoff finals. 

His 22 points both last season and in 2008-09 are also career professional high water marks. 

Lackner is looking forward to bringing the RiverKings back to a contender status in the CHL.

"I've enjoyed playing for Killer and I'm glad to be back and playing for him again," Lackner said.  "Hopefully this year we can be more consistent in the win column and also be working every night and playing Killer's system." 

Lackner came to Mississippi after he played one season with the CHL Tulsa Oilers in the 2007-08 campaign.  Lackner played in all 64 games with Tulsa that year and scored three goals for 13 points and 41 points.

He was one of two players on the Tulsa roster to play the entire season.

Lackner made his professional debut in the 2006-07 season, playing for three teams in the United Hockey League -- Bloomington, Fort Wayne and the Chicago Hounds. 

Between the three stops, Lackner scored five goals for 26 points and 32 penalty minutes.  He added one assist in nine playoff games for Fort Wayne that season, as the Komets won the Tarry Cup league championship.

Lackner wants to contribute to the team's success where ever he can.

"Whatever I can do to help; I enjoy special teams play and things like that.  I take pride in killing penalties and I feel as though I can shoot the puck on the power play and help the team where ever I can." 

Lackner's amateur hockey career was featured by four seasons of NCAA Division I play at Niagara University.  It was there his career totals included six goals for 40 points and 85 penalty minutes in 145 appearances for the Purple Eagles. 

He served as a team assistant captain during his career and was a second-team all-College Hockey Association (CHA) selection after the 2003-04 season.  That season,

Niagara won the conference championship and reached the NCAA Division I tournament. 

Lackner was also named to the CHA all-tournament team in 2006.