Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie of the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL announced today that third-year defenseman Chad Starling – on a two-way contract with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) – has been reassigned from the AHL club.
Starling – a 6-foot-6, 225-pound defenseman – competed in two games for the Aeros last Thursday and Friday without any points. With the Rivermen during the 2003-2004 regular season, he registered six points (1g, 5a) and a +10 plus/minus in 29 games after his reassignment from the Corpus Christi Rayz of the Central Hockey League (CHL). He notched 11 points (4g, 7a) and 76 penalty minutes (PIM) in 35 contests with Corpus Christi to open the year.
The 23-year-old native of Delisle, Saskatchewan was on a one-way contract with the Peoria’s AHL affiliate – the Worcester IceCats – in 2002-2003, competing in 34 games with one assist and 36 PIM. The former fourth round (114th overall) pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft played in 10 games with the Rivermen to complete the season, posting seven points (3g, 4a) and six (6) PIM.
As a rookie in 2001-2002, Starling collected 10 assists in 66 games with the Rivermen with 94 PIM. He played for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for two of his three full seasons (1998-2000) of Major Junior “A” hockey, posting 28 points (8g, 20a) and 188 PIM in 116 games.
The Rivermen take on the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in the first round of the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Game One of the Northern Division Semifinals is Wednesday, April 7 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Game Two is Friday, April 9 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Boardwalk Hall. Games Three and Four (if necessary) are in Peoria, Ill. Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13, respectively. Game times are 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena. Game Five would return the series to Atlantic City on Thursday, April 15 at 6:05 p.m. CT. For individual playoff tickets, fans may call 309-673-3200.
2 Starling, Chad
Position: Defense Shoots: Left Birth Date: 09/16/80
Height: 6’6” Weight: 225 Birthplace: Delisle, Saskatchewan
Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997-98 Kamloops Blazers WHL 1 0 0 0 0
1998-99 Kamloops Blazers WHL 65 4 13 17 101 14 0 0 0 8
1999-00 Kamloops Blazers WHL 51 4 7 11 87 4 0 0 0 6
2000-01 Sudbury Wolves OHL 51 3 12 15 118 12 1 1 2 29
2001-02 Peoria Rivermen ECHL 66 0 10 10 94 5 1 0 1 8
2002-03 Worcester IceCats AHL 34 0 1 1 36
Peoria Rivermen ECHL 10 3 4 7 6 4 0 0 0 4
2003-04 Corpus Christi Rayz CHL 35 4 7 11 76
Peoria Rivermen ECHL 29 1 5 6 35
Houston Aeros AHL 2 0 0 0 0
Pro Totals 176 8 27 35 247 9 1 0 1 8
