Mississippi Sea Wolves Official Hockey Web Site

BILOXI, Miss. � The East Coast Hockey League announced today Mississippi Sea Wolves right wing Steffon Walby (STEHF-ihn WAHL-bee), defenseman Jim Baxter and forward Kent Davyduke (DAH-vih-dewk) have been selected to play for the Southern Conference at the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game. All three Sea Wolves players are making their first-ever appearance.

The 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game will be played at 7:30 p.m. ET on January 21. The game and the skills competition on January 20 will be hosted by the Florida Everblades at TECO Arena in Estero, Florida.

Walby and Baxter were selected to the starting lineup at the Southern Conference. The starting lineups were determined in voting by Southern Conference coaches, team captains, media relations directors, team broadcasters and newspaper writers. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference that determined the final roster with each of the 13 teams in the Southern Conference represented.

Walby leads the ECHL with six game-winning goals, is tied for the lead with four shorthand goals, and is tied for 16th in scoring with 32 points (13g-19a) in 20 games.

�It�s a tremendous honor, especially being selected by others around the league,� said Walby. �This is my first all-star game in 10 professional seasons and I�m really looking forward to the experience.�

Baxter was selected in the seventh round (180th overall) by Boston in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and in the seventh round (202nd overall) overall by Carolina in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the 23-year-old Baxter leads ECHL defensemen with 34 points, ranks second with 26 assists, and is tied for second with eight goals.

�It�s a great honor and I�m surprised to be named a starter,� said Baxter. �Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods has shown a lot of confidence in me since joining Mississippi and I�m thankful.�

Acquired in a trade with Trenton, the 23-year-old Davyduke has six points (3g-3a) in five games with Mississippi and ranks fifth among ECHL rookies with 26 points and is tied for fifth with 16 assists.

�What a thrill to be selected to the All-Star Game,� said Davyduke. �I've been fortunate, things are going well in my rookie season.�

�It really says a lot about the Sea Wolves hockey team,� said Mississippi coach Bob Woods. �All three guys are having great years and we probably could have had more selected. But the Mississippi organization will be very well represented at the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game.�

For tickets to the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game, telephone (239) 948-7825 or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.

The Sea Wolves get back into action this weekend with three home games in three days. Tomorrow at 7:35 p.m., Mississippi hosts the Louisiana IceGators.

On Saturday, the Sea Wolves entertain their intrastate rival Jackson Bandits at 7:35 p.m. Then on Sunday, Mississippi is at home to the Arkansas RiverBlades at 5:05 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Just in time for the holidays, purchase Sea Wolves Pick Six Plan. Choose your favorite six games and receive a free Sea Wolves gift package consisting of an official game puck autographed by Coach Bob Woods plus a Sea Wolves Souvenir Media Guide. The Pick Six Plan ranges from $48 to $96.

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