Mudbugs Re-Sign Jim Sprott
August 27, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA â The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League announced today that they have re-signed team captain Jim Sprott for the 2003-04 season. Sprott, an original member of the franchise, returns for his seventh season in Bossier-Shreveport and fifteenth in professional hockey.
The Oakville, Ontario native is the Mudbugs' all-time penalty minute leader with 1,137 and ranks second in games played at 366. He is also the team's all-time leading scoring defenseman with 70 goals and 133 assists for 203 points in his six-year Mudbugs career. Last season, Sprott led all Mudbugs defenseman with 13 goals and finished second on the team in penalty minutes with 142. He recorded 22 points and had a plus-16 rating over 63 games last year.
"I'm really looking forward to leading this team once again and hopefully getting us back to the top," said Sprott. "This community has been great to my family and I over the last six years and that makes this a fun place to play. I have a lot of confidence in this team and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season."
The 6'1" 195-pound defenseman was originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and has played in 786 professional games. Sprott joined the Mudbugs in 1997 and was an integral part of the team's three consecutive President's Cup Championships from 1999-2001.
"The name âJim Sprott' is synonymous with Mudbugs hockey and I think everyone knows what he has meant to this franchise over the last six years," said Mudbugs Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Scott Muscutt. "His presence on the ice and in the dressing room is invaluable and as team captain his daily role is obviously very important."
Jim Sprott becomes the second defenseman and third veteran to be signed by the Mudbugs for the 2003-04 season. Central Hockey League teams are allowed to carry five players that have played in 260 or more professional games. Sprott joins veteran forwards Trevor Buchanan and Forbes MacPherson, defenseman Travis Bell, goaltender Ken Carroll, and forwards Chris Brassard, Chad Spurr, Jason Campbell, and Craig Soke as members of the 2003-04 Mudbugs team.
The Mudbugs have also announced a new ad campaign with Lamar Advertising which will include several billboards placed throughout Shreveport and Bossier City. Jim Sprott will be featured on the advertisements which will be unveiled this week with the slogan, "Mudbugs School of Hard Knocks." The 2003-04 Mudbugs season begins on October 17th.
Season ticket packages for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are now on sale, including new discounted prices and special senior citizen, police, firefighter, and military packages. The team's home opener will take place on Friday October 24th against the Austin Ice Bats. For more information on the 2003-04 Mudbugs hockey season, please call 752-BUGS.
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