Columbia's Smith Wins C&T Hockey Products Plus Performer of the Year Award

April 6, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced on Tuesday that Columbia forward Tim Smith is the 2003-04 recipient of the C&T Hockey Products Plus Performer of the Year. In his second professional season, Smith led the ECHL with a plus-minus rating of +40, four ahead of Wheeling's Jake Ortmeyer, who finished with a plus-minus rating of +36. Peoria's Tyler Rennette was third in plus-minus rating with +35 followed by Gwinnett's Jim Jackson with +34 and Wheeling's J.C. Ruid with +33.

Smith's teammate Dennis Vial shared the award with Pee Dee forward Mike Glumac in 2002-03.

The first Columbia player to be named to the All-ECHL First Team, the 22-year-old Smith set a team record with 62 assists and had the second-highest point total in team history with 95 points. Selected in the ninth round (272nd overall) by Vancouver in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and under contract to Vancouver, the 5-9 and 165-pound Smith led the Inferno with 33 goals, 17 power-play assists and 24 power-play points (7g-17a) while tying for second on the team in power-play goals with seven. He has also played in one game with Manitoba in the American Hockey League in 2003-04.

C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performer of the Year Award Winners
2003-04 Tim Smith, Columbia Inferno
2002-03 Dennis Vial, Columbia Inferno
Mike Glumac, Pee Dee Pride
2001-02 Konstantin Kalmikov, Louisiana IceGators
2000-01 Jay Murphy, Louisiana IceGators
1999-00 Andy MacIntyre, Florida Everblades

The ECHL will announce the 2003-04 recipient of the 2003-04 John Brophy Award, presented to the Coach of the Year on Wednesday, April 7.

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