BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi Sea Wolves veteran center Cody Bowtell (BOH-tehl) announced today that he has retired from playing professional hockey.
Bowtell, 29, was accepted into a four-year College of Dentistry program at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, which leads to a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. His professional hockey career spanned six seasons beginning in 1997.
Bowtell completes his career by appearing in 411 games, scoring 139 goals, registering 162 assists for a total of 301 points to go along with 336 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pound native of Wainwright, Alberta played five seasons with Mississippi, from 1997-98 to 2000-01, and returning for the 2002-03 campaign. He also played in the ECHL with Dayton and Pee Dee. Bowtell suited up in the American Hockey League with Lowell and Springfield, the West Coast Hockey League with Colorado, and overseas in Germany and Switzerland. He played college hockey at Alaska-Fairbanks for four years from 1993-97. In addition, Bowtell attended the National Hockey League training camp of the Los Angeles Kings in 1999.
Bowtell was acquired by Mississippi in a trade from the Pee Dee Pride on March 2, 1998 with Vashi Nedomansky for Don Chase and Forbes MacPherson. His tenure with the Sea Wolves was highlighted by being a member of the 1999 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship team. He represented Mississippi at the 2001 All-Star Game in Arkansas, scoring two goals and picking up two assists in the contest. During the 2000-01 season, Bowtell notched a career high 28 goals and was named the Sea Wolves Most Valuable Player.
Over his Mississippi career, Bowtell ranks sixth in team history by appearing in 208 regular season games. He sits second all-time with 87 goals, his 103 assists ranks fifth overall, and he is third all-time with 190 points. Bowtell is also second in team history with 16 power play goals and ranks third with seven career shorthand markers. He played 56 games in 2002-03 with the Sea Wolves, netting 25 goals and collecting career highs with 33 assists and 58 points.
�It�s tough to retire and give up the sport I love, but I�m excited about my new career,� said Bowtell. �Winning the Kelly Cup with the Sea Wolves in 1999 was a moment I�ll never forget. Mississippi is like a second home for my wife Danielle and I.�
�It�s definitely going to be tough to replace Bowtell on the roster and he�ll be missed by the Sea Wolves organization,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �We�re excited for Cody that he is entering a new era of his life. He�s been working hard to get into Dentistry School. His work ethic will make him a very successful dentist.�
�Cody was one of the best players in our organization and a true gamer,� said Bo McMurphy, president of the Sea Wolves. �Bowtell was a leader on and off the ice. He brought a lot to the locker room and the community. Cody is a professional in everything he does and we want to thank him for everything he did for the Sea Wolves. We wish him the best of luck in his future as a dentist.�
Sea Wolves season tickets are on sale and sponsorship packages are also available by calling 228-275-WOLF (9653).
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