Mississippi Sea Wolves Official Hockey Web Site

BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi announced its monthly award winners after finishing December with a 9-3-1 record. Defenseman Jim Baxter has been named the Sea Wolves Player of the Month for December.

Forward Mike Scott captured Mississippi's Rookie of the Month honors and Greg Gardner took the team award for Goaltender of the Month.

Baxter, 23, tallied two goals and 16 assists for 18 points and a plus-6 rating in 13 games during December. The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound native of Brantford, Ontario was named a starter at the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game to be held on January 21 at Estero, Florida. Selected in the seventh round (180th overall) by Boston in 1997 and selected again in the seventh round (202nd overall) by Carolina in 1999, Baxter leads the ECHL with 33 assists. He is also first among defensemen with 42 points (9g-33a). Baxter was originally acquired by Mississippi in a trade with the Augusta Lynx on December 11, 2001.

Scott, 25, scored five goals, including one shorthand marker and five assists for a total of 10 points, to go along with his plus-7 rating in 13 games. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound rookie is a native of Calgary, Alberta. Scott was acquired in a trade with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on October 29.

Gardner, 27, backstopped Mississippi to a 6-2-1 record in nine games during December. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario posted a 2.32 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. He is second among ECHL goaltenders in wins with 17, fifth overall with a 2.57 goals-against average and fifth in save percentage at .922. Gardner signed with Mississippi as a free agent on October 5.

The Sea Wolves get back into action by hosting Columbus at 7:35 p.m. on Friday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. All military receive two tickets for the price of one, including NASA and Stennis employees.

Then on Saturday, Mississippi entertains Pensacola at 7:35 p.m. at the Wolves Den.

Individual game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.