Fan's Choice Awards Announced for Mississippi
March 30, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, Miss. â The Booster Club for the Mississippi Sea Wolves hosted the seventh annual Fan's Choice Awards Banquet at the Woolmarket Community Center. The awards were determined in a vote of Sea Wolves fans.
Mississippi captain and assistant coach Steffon Walby was named the Most Valuable Player for the second straight season and also added the Offensive Player of the Year award. Defenseman Jim Baxter was selected Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Rookie Mike Scott earned the Best New Player award. Forward John Evangelista was presented the Ralph Coburn Community Service award. Forward Dave Paradise won the Fan Favorite award.
Walby, 30, tied his team record by scoring 42 goals for the second straight season. He also collected 47 assists and had a team-leading 89 points in 59 games and led Mississippi with 28 multi-point games. The 6-foot and 200-pound native of Lodi, Wisconsin also set team records with 18 power-play goals, seven short-handed goals and 10 game-winning goals. He was selected a starter and team captain for the Southern Conference at the Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game. Walby also earned All-ECHL First Team honors for the second straight season.
Baxter, 23, set career-highs and team records for assists in a season with 58 and points by a defenseman with 74. He also had 19 multi-point games and the Sea Wolves posted a 19-0-0 record in those contests. The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound native of Brantford, Ontario also scored a career-high 16 goals. Baxter was named the East Coast Hockey League Defenseman of the Year and All-ECHL First Team Defenseman. He was also selected as a starter and alternate captain for the Southern Conference at the Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game.
Scott, 25, set rookie team records with 26 goals, 41 assists and 67 points. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound native of Calgary, Alberta was named the East Coast Hockey League CCM Rookie of the Month for February scoring eight goals and picking up 14 assists for 22 points in 14 games. Scott put together a nine-game point streak (3g-9a) from January 11 to February 6 and compiled another point streak of eight games (7g-10a) from February 13 to March 1. Scott also had 19 multi-point games. He was acquired in a trade with Atlantic City on October 29, 2002.
Evangelista, 27, makes himself available to the public along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help develop the game of hockey. On the ice, the 5-foot-9 and 185-pound native of St. Catharines, Ontario tallied nine goals, including one short-handed marker and 12 assists for 21 points in 66 games. Evangelista is in his fourth season with Mississippi and fifth year of professional hockey.
Paradise, 29, is in his fourth season with Mississippi and has been a fan favorite since arriving on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of St. Paul, Minnesota set career-highs and team records with a plus-30 rating and goals by a center with 39. Paradise also had career-highs with 36 assists and 75 points. He also had 24 multi-point games for the Sea Wolves this season.
The Sea Wolves open 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.
Tickets for the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
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