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RiverKings land high scoring forward Chad Woollard
By Ron Caldwell/Times Sports Editor
SOUTHAVEN - The RiverKings added goal-scoring punch to their 2007-08 roster with the signing of veteran forward Chad Woollard, who has averaged 39.5 goals over the last three seasons.
The signing, which was announced by RiverKings head coach and director of hockey operations Kevin McClelland, brings the three-time Central Hockey League All-Star back to the league after he played last year at Quad City in the United Hockey League.
Woollard, who played the last two seasons with the Mallards of the United Hockey League, is the first player signed by the RiverKings for the 2007-2008 hockey season.
The eight-year pro has scored 218 goals and picked up 219 assists in 475 career games.
"I think this was the best situation for me and my wife," Woollard said. "I also think it is the best opportunity to win a championship this season. This will be my ninth year and I am really dying to get that first championship."
He is looking forward to playing with the RiverKings and residing in the Southaven area.
"Coach McClelland said great things about the area and how the players and their families are treated," Woollard added. "They had a great team last year and, it sounds like he is working to have an even better one this season."
Last season, the Durham, Ontario native led the Mallards with career highs of 82 points and 47 assists.
His 35 goals were also third on the second highest scoring team in the UHL. He also led Quad City in overall scoring and was a UHL All Star in each of his two seasons with the Mallards.
His 44 goals in 2005-2006 were a career high and were the fifth most in the league. He has scored 30 or more goals in four of his eight seasons.
"I have always been a shooter and I love to shoot the puck," Woollard said. "In my early years, I tried to concentrate on mostly the physical part of the game. As I have gotten older, I have learned to combine the physical play with the ability to put the puck into the net."
Prior to his two years with Quad City, Woollard (6-3, 210 pounds) was a member of the Fort Worth Brahmas for five seasons and was a CHL All Star in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
He is the Brahmas' all-time leader in games (290), goals (132), points (264), shots (1,029), game-winning goals (15) and shorthanded goals (5).
Woollard started his career in the ECHL in 1999-2000 with the Jackson Bandits and the Greensboro Generals. He also has appeared in eight American Hockey League games on three separate call-ups to the Utah Grizzlies, St. John's Maple Leafs and San Antonio Rampage. He was up with the Rampage for two games this past season.
His junior hockey career consisted of three and a half seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 1996-1999.
The RiverKings are coming off a season where they finished the regular season with 39 wins, the most since 2002-03 and the third most in the franchise's history.
The team also made a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and fell to the eventual President's Cup champion Colorado Eagles in the Northern Conference Finals.
The signing, which was announced by RiverKings head coach and director of hockey operations Kevin McClelland, brings the three-time Central Hockey League All-Star back to the league after he played last year at Quad City in the United Hockey League.
Woollard, who played the last two seasons with the Mallards of the United Hockey League, is the first player signed by the RiverKings for the 2007-2008 hockey season.
The eight-year pro has scored 218 goals and picked up 219 assists in 475 career games.
"I think this was the best situation for me and my wife," Woollard said. "I also think it is the best opportunity to win a championship this season. This will be my ninth year and I am really dying to get that first championship."
He is looking forward to playing with the RiverKings and residing in the Southaven area.
"Coach McClelland said great things about the area and how the players and their families are treated," Woollard added. "They had a great team last year and, it sounds like he is working to have an even better one this season."
Last season, the Durham, Ontario native led the Mallards with career highs of 82 points and 47 assists.
His 35 goals were also third on the second highest scoring team in the UHL. He also led Quad City in overall scoring and was a UHL All Star in each of his two seasons with the Mallards.
His 44 goals in 2005-2006 were a career high and were the fifth most in the league. He has scored 30 or more goals in four of his eight seasons.
"I have always been a shooter and I love to shoot the puck," Woollard said. "In my early years, I tried to concentrate on mostly the physical part of the game. As I have gotten older, I have learned to combine the physical play with the ability to put the puck into the net."
Prior to his two years with Quad City, Woollard (6-3, 210 pounds) was a member of the Fort Worth Brahmas for five seasons and was a CHL All Star in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
He is the Brahmas' all-time leader in games (290), goals (132), points (264), shots (1,029), game-winning goals (15) and shorthanded goals (5).
Woollard started his career in the ECHL in 1999-2000 with the Jackson Bandits and the Greensboro Generals. He also has appeared in eight American Hockey League games on three separate call-ups to the Utah Grizzlies, St. John's Maple Leafs and San Antonio Rampage. He was up with the Rampage for two games this past season.
His junior hockey career consisted of three and a half seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 1996-1999.
The RiverKings are coming off a season where they finished the regular season with 39 wins, the most since 2002-03 and the third most in the franchise's history.
The team also made a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and fell to the eventual President's Cup champion Colorado Eagles in the Northern Conference Finals.
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