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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Players Award Banquet Held Tonight At The E-Center

March 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH (Mar. 27, 2003) - The Utah Grizzlies held their annual Player Award Banquet sponsored by Key Bank and Community Development Corporation tonight at the E-Center recognizing the team's outstanding achievements and accomplishments during the 2002-03 season. During the event, the Grizzlies individual player awards for the regular season were announced.

The highlight of the evening was when Grizzlies Captain Mark Wotton was given the Player's Player award, which is one of the highest honors as it is voted on by the Grizzlies team. Wotton became the only three-time winner of the award joining Andy Brickley, Yan Kaminsky, Mark Lawrence, Rob Zettler and Sean Tallaire who each won the award one time.

Second year Grizzly Jim Montgomery took home the team's Player of the Year award and the Fan Favorite award (voted on by the Growling Grizzlies booster club). Montgomery is the team's leading scorer this season with 61 points (20-41=61). Previous MVP award winners include Tommy Salo, Chris Taylor, Micah Aivazoff, Jarrod Skalde and Wade Flaherty (given the honor last season)

The Gord Dineen Defenseman of the Year award was given for the second straight season to Greg Hawgood. The veteran who played in his 1000th professional game earlier in the season is currently the top scoring defenseman in the AHL with 51 points (13-38=51).

Rookie goaltender Jason Bacashihua earned a pair of honors being named the Grizzlies Rookie of the Year and also being named the team's Three Star winner for being named the star of the game the most times this season.

Eric Landry was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year. The first year Grizzly is currently second on the team with 60 points (25-35=60) and finished second to Bacashihua in the Three Star tabulations.

The Unsung Hero award was given to first year Grizzly David Gosselin who is the only player to play in every game this season for Utah. He has scored 33 points (11-22=33) and has battled away to a total of 133 penalty minutes.

The Trash Talker award went to Justin Cox who also garnered the recognition last season. The second year Grizzly joins current National Hockey League players Derek Armstrong (Los Angeles Kings) and David Ling (Columbus Blue Jackets) and current team medical trainer Greg Payette as previous winners of the award.

The team's Most Improved Player award went to defenseman Jeff MacMillan who has already established a new career high with eight goals. The third-year Grizzly has been as steady as any of the blueliners for Utah totaling 14 points (8-6=14).

Yesterday, the Grizzlies announced that Gavin Morgan was named the Utah Grizzlies American Specialty/HG Insurance/AHL Man of the Year given for his community and charitable contributions. As the Grizzlies honoree, Morgan will be one of 28 AHL players considered for the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award (given to the AHL's Man of the Year).

Most Valuable Player - Jim Montgomery
Player's Player - Mark Wotton
Best Offensive Player - Eric Landry
Gord Dineen Trophy (Outstanding Defenseman) - Greg Hawgood
Rookie of the Year - Jason Bacashihua
Most Improved Player - Jeff MacMillan
Unsung Hero - David Gosselin
Trash Talker - Justin Cox
Man of the Year (Community/Charitable Involvement) - Gavin Morgan
Fan Favorite - Jim Montgomery
Plus/Minus Award - Jason Bacashihua

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