Sports stats



Fan's Choice Awards Announced For Sea Wolves

April 6, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Sea Wolves Wolf Pack Booster Club announced its eighth annual Fan's Choice Awards, as voted on by the fans for the 2003-04 regular season.

The following are the award winners in seven categories:

Most Valuable Player – Greg Gardner, Goaltender
Offensive Player of the Year – Steffon Walby, Right Wing
Defensive Player of the Year – Steve O'Rourke, Defense
Best New Player – Louis Dumont, Center
Rookie of the Year – Jason Kean, Defenseman
Ralph Coburn Community Service Award – Louis Dumont, Center
Fan Favorite – Roger Maxwell, Right Wing

Most Valuable Player – Greg Gardner, Goaltender

Gardner, 28, became just the second goaltender in ECHL history to post consecutive 30-win seasons, joining Nick Vitucci, finishing fourth among ECHL goaltenders in wins with 30 and collecting a 30-14-3 record in 47 games. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario broke his own team records by registering a 2.43 goals against average and .923 save percentage this season and tied the team standard by registering three shutouts, equaling Chuck Thuss, who picked up three shutouts in 1998-99 and 2000-01. Gardner became Mississippi's all-time career goaltending wins leader by earning his 59th victory, surpassing Thuss, on March 21 at Texas, making 37 saves in the Sea Wolves 3-2 victory. He was named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week on two occasions this year, for December 15-21 and March 15-21. Gardner, who is in his second season with Mississippi and fourth year of pro hockey, was assigned to Mississippi by Rochester of the American Hockey League on October 16.

Offensive Player of the Year – Steffon Walby, Right Wing

Walby, 31, led Mississippi with 55 assists and 88 points, which was also second in the ECHL. The 6-foot and 200-pound Walby also tied Louis Dumont for the team lead with 33 goals and his +32 along with Brent Gauvreau, tied the new team record. Walby, the Sea Wolves captain for a third consecutive season, was named to All-ECHL First Team for a third straight year. A native of Lodi, Wisconsin, Walby was selected as a starter and captain for the Western Conference at the 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game and scored a goal in the contest on January 21 at Peoria. He also won the Accuracy Shooting event at the ECHL All-Star Skills Competition, hitting four targets in eight shots. Walby was named Sher-Wood ECHL Player of the Month for December and was named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week from November 10-16. He tied a Mississippi team record, along with Patrick Rochon, by registering assists in nine consecutive games, 16 overall, from November 7 to December 12. Walby, who is in his 11th season of pro hockey and third season with the Sea Wolves, is Mississippi's career leader in goals (117), points (270), power-play goals (43) and shorthand goals (11).

Defensive Player of the Year – Steve O'Rourke, Defense

O'Rourke, 29, led all Sea Wolves defensemen with a plus-minus rating of +27. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound O'Rourke finished with five goals, 27 points and 96 penalty minutes in 70 games. A native of Red Deer, Alberta, O'Rourke was named runner up for InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week for the week of January 19-25. He is in his first season with Mississippi and fifth season of pro hockey.

Best New Player – Louis Dumont, Center

Dumont, 31, tied for the team lead in goals with 33, along with Steffon Walby, and tied for fourth overall in the ECHL with 84 points. The 5-foot-10 and 180-pound Dumont also registered a +30 and was one of only two Mississippi players to appear in all 72 games, joining Kerry Ellis-Toddington. Dumont became the ECHL all-time career scoring leader by netting a goal on November 27, which was his 690th league point, surpassing Rod Taylor, and on March 21, he became the league's all-time career assist leader by registering two helpers for a total of 461, surpassing Chris Valicevic. A native of Westaskiwin, Alberta, Dumont was also selected as Mississippi's Player of the Month for February and was named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week for February 16-22. Dumont continues to rank among the ECHL all-time career leaders in several categories including first in points (754), first in assists (465), seventh in goals (289), and third in games played (634). Dumont is in his first season with Mississippi and 10th season in the ECHL and pro hockey.

Rookie of the Year – Jason Kean, Defenseman

Kean, 25, led all Sea Wolves rookies in games played (39), goals (1), assists (8), points (9), plus-minus (+10) and penalty minutes (67). The 5-foot-11 and 195-pound Kean was named Mississippi's Rookie of the Month for November, December, January and February. A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Kean registered his first multi-point game, by notching two assists on February 20 against Texas. He scored his first ECHL goal on December 12 at Pensacola, against Brian Eklund. Kean signed with Mississippi as a free agent on November 23.

Ralph Coburn Community Service Award – Louis Dumont, Center

The award was named after the Sea Wolves first assistant equipment manager Ralph Coburn, who passed away in the team's first season of 1996-97. Dumont earned the award after making himself available to speak in front of more than 5,000 students at schools across the Gulf Coast. He spearheaded the "Dare to be Different" program, which teaches children the importance of being a team player, while maintaining their individuality. He also participated in the Sea Wolves "Hooked on Reading" program, which encourages children to keep physically fit through sports and mentally fit through reading. Dumont helped coach the local youth ice and inline hockey programs on a regular basis and was an integral part of helping promote the game on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In addition, he made numerous appearances at civic and charitable functions that were supported by the Sea Wolves.

Fan Favorite – Roger Maxwell, Right Wing

Maxwell, 28, tied his career-high by netting six goals and 13 points. The 6-foot-3 and 240-pound Maxwell also finished first in the ECHL with 370 penalty minutes and ranked in a fourth place tie with 26 major penalties. A native of Brampton, Ontario, Maxwell is Mississippi's all-time career leader in penalty minutes with 861. The veteran Maxwell, is in his eighth pro season and third year with the Sea Wolves, after playing with the team from 1996-98.

Mississippi opens the postseason at home in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals series against the Gwinnett Gladiators for Game 1 at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Game 2 will take place at 7:35 p.m. on Friday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

A playoff ticket package is available for one low price of $135, which consists of 10 home games and includes a $25 season ticket deposit for the 2004-05 season by calling (228) 275-WOLF.

Individual playoff tickets start at $9 each for children 12 and under, $10 each for seniors and military, while adult tickets are $11 each. Tickets can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from April 6, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Mississippi Sea Wolves Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central