Ellis-Toddington Returns to North America

By Bob Bakken

The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) have announced the signing of defenseman Kerry Ellis-Toddington, a former Clarkson standout, to the team roster for the 2010-11 season. 

Ellis-Toddington, a Regina, Saskatchewan native, brings five years of European professional hockey experience in his return to North American hockey. He also has three seasons of ECHL action and has played in one American Hockey League contest during his pro career.   

RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin “Killer” Kaminski says Ellis-Toddington will bring everything to the table. “Kerry is very solid defensively; he is very skilled with a great shot from the point and is a great skater to join the rush,” Kaminski said. “Plus, he is very intelligent and brings a lot of experience. Kerry will be a big piece of the puzzle on the back end.”

Last season, Kerry netted five goals and added 30 assists for 35 points in 54 games with the Ravensburg Tower Stars of the 2nd Division German Bundesliga.

In three seasons at Ravensburg, Kerry scored 13 goals for 73 points and 66 penalty minutes in 107 regular season appearances. In 26 playoff games, Ellis-Toddington recorded two goals and added 11 assists for 15 points and 52 PIMS. 

In Germany, Kerry also played 91 games with Bremerhaven REV in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns, scoring 13 goals for 61 points. 

His European background also includes 18 games in Denmark with the Nordsjaelland Cobras, earning four assists and a career professional high of 48 penalty minutes. 

Ellis-Toddington believes his European experience will work in his favor back in North America. “I learned a lot over there,” Kerry noted. It’s different hockey, faster, not quite as physical, but I think it helped round out my game.”

Prior to his play in Europe, Ellis-Toddington played three seasons in the ECHL with Richmond and Pensacola in the 2002-03 season, and with the Mississippi Sea Wolves from 2003-05, where he played with current RiverKings players Louis Dumont and Anthony Battaglia. He also played one game in the AHL with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the 2002-03 year. 

Ellis-Toddington knows he’ll be in a good situation with the RiverKings. “I’ve heard a lot of good things, I’ve played with a couple of guys that have already signed earlier in the summer in Louis Dumont and Anthony Battaglia,” Kerry said. “Both those guys have said nothing but good things about coach Kaminski, Southaven itself, and how the organization is run, so I’m really excited.”

Kerry’s North American professional totals include 219 games played, 26 goals scored, 62 points and 115 PIMS. He took part in 13 playoff games, scored four goals for four points and four PIMS. 

Ellis-Toddington’s career professional highs have come primarily with the Sea Wolves with 33 assists and 42 penalty minutes in the 2004-05 ECHL season.

Prior to professional hockey, Ellis-Toddington played four years collegiate hockey at Clarkson University, located at Potsdam, New York. That’s where he appeared in 142 career games, scored 14 goals, added 71 assists for 85 points and 129 penalty minutes with the Golden Knights.

Considered one of the top college defensemen in the country, Ellis-Toddington served as co-captain in his senior season at Clarkson, aiding them back to the ECAC Conference semi-finals. During his time at Clarkson, the Golden Knights appeared in one NCAA Division I tournament as an automatic qualifier after winning the conference post-season tournament. 

The Golden Knights won two ECAC regular season titles during his college career and Ellis-Toddington won first-team conference All-Star and All-Tournament honors while with the school. 

Before Clarkson, Ellis-Toddington was one of the premier defenseman in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, while playing for the Battlefords North Stars, where he tallied five goals and 10 assists in 1997-98, while being named SJHL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Defenseman.