Baxter Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year
March 30, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, Miss. â The East Coast Hockey League announced today Jim Baxter of the Mississippi Sea Wolves has been named the 2002-03 ECHL Defenseman of the Year as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches.
Baxter, 23, was named to the All-ECHL First Team on Thursday and he leads ECHL defensemen and ranks fifth overall in the ECHL with 58 assists. He leads defensemen and is tied for 19th overall in scoring with 74 points in 68 games. Selected by the Boston Bruins in the seventh round (180th overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round (202nd overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Baxter led Mississippi in assists and ranked third in scoring. The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound native of Brantford, Ontario is in his second season with Mississippi. He was named as a starter for the Southern Conference in the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game, and he joins Steffon Walby as the only players in team history to earn All-ECHL First Team honors.
"It's a great honor and I'm surprised," said Baxter. "Our focus now is to keep doing well in the Kelly Cup Playoffs."
"Jim had a great year. He put up big numbers and is one of our leaders," said Mississippi coach Bob Woods. "It's a tremendous award for him and the Sea Wolves organization."
The Sea Wolves begin the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs at home on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. for Game 1 of the Southwest Division Semifinals at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, against a still to be determined opponent. Game 2 will also be played at the Wolves Den on Friday at 7:35 p.m.
Mississippi's slogan for the postseason is âOne Cup. One Goal.' The Sea Wolves will have special white commemorative sweaters available to commemorate the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Sea Wolves intend to have a âwhite-out' in effect for Game 1 on Wednesday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Kelly Cup Playoff Packages are available at the Sea Wolves hockey office by calling 228-275-WOLF (9653).
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