The players acquired by the RiverKings are defenseman Tyler Sheldrake from the Corpus Christi IceRays, defenseman Evan Shaw from the Arizona Sundogs, and forward Paul Kelly from the Wichita Thunder. 

Kelly comes to the Mid-South to complete a trade that sent Ryan Campbell to Wichita for future considerations.  Sheldrake’s acquisition comes as the completion of a trade made between the RiverKings and IceRays which sent goaltender Kevin Beech from Mississippi to Corpus Christi for future considerations.  Shaw comes to the RiverKings to complete a deal made with the Sundogs that sent Adam Smyth and Kevin Jarman to Arizona future considerations. 

Kelly joined the Thunder back in January after a trade sent him there from the Odessa Jackalopes.  The native of West Peabody, Massachusetts scored nine goals and had 25 points with 18 penalty minutes in 33 games with Wichita.  The five-year veteran of professional hockey started the year with 12 goals for 21 points in Odessa before the deal that sent him to Kansas. 

Kelly’s career highs include 26 goals and 53 points with the Tulsa Oilers during the 2007-08 CHL season.  He’s also appeared in 35 career professional playoff games, scoring 13 goals for 26 points between appearances with Dayton of the ECHL and Odessa. 

Kelly also has CHL experience with Rapid City and has also played in the ECHL with Augusta and South Carolina.  He played collegiate hockey at Boston College and SUNY-Plattsburgh, and Tier I junior hockey with the Tri-City Storm (Nebraska) in the United States Hockey League. 

RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin "Killer" Kaminski says, "Kelly gives us another natural centerman.  He has great offensive instincts to score and set up plays.  Kelly is also solid on faceoffs and in his own end.  He'll solidify us down the middle."

This past season, Sheldrake, a native of Dunnville, Ontario, played 19 games with Corpus Christi before being placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 5th.  While on the ice, Tyler’s statistics included one assist and 61 penalty minutes. 

Prior to last season, Sheldrake played Canadian major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with Peterborough and Sudbury.  In his two-year OHL career, Tyler totaled two goals, 16 points, and 221 PIMS.

Kaminski feels Sheldrake will battle.  "Tyler's a great, young kid who will go to war for his teammates," Kaminski said.  "The report on him is that he will do whatever is asked and enjoys it.  He has a great passion for the game."

Shaw, a native of Narragansett, Rhode Island, this past season totaled one goal and nine points to go with 62 penalty minutes in 61 appearances for Arizona. 

Shaw’s pro hockey background includes time spent in the ECHL at Columbia, San Diego, and Trenton, and one year playing in the Netherlands with Geleen.  That was where he had his career high for goals and points with eight goals and twenty points in forty games played during the 2008-09 campaign. 

Evan has also played in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, then played nine games at Michigan State University before turning to Canadian major junior hockey, where he spent three seasons in Quebec before turning professional. 

Kaminski feels Shaw will be a competitor on the ice.  "Evan's another young prospect who's a solid stay-at-home defenseman.  He will play with an edge and competes every shift, blocking shots and taking care of the front of his net."