BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves Wolf Pack Booster Club announced its eighth annual Fan�s Choice Awards, as voted on by the fans for the 2003-04 regular season.

The following are the award winners for seven categories:

Most Valuable Player � Greg Gardner, Goaltender
Offensive Player of the Year � Steffon Walby, Right Wing
Defensive Player of the Year � Steve O�Rourke, Defense
Best New Player � Louis Dumont, Center
Rookie of the Year � Jason Kean, Defenseman
Ralph Coburn Community Service Award � Louis Dumont, Center
Fan Favorite � Roger Maxwell, Right Wing


Most Valuable Player � Greg Gardner, Goaltender

Gardner, 28, became just the second goaltender in ECHL history to post consecutive 30-win seasons, joining Nick Vitucci, finishing fourth among ECHL goaltenders in wins with 30 and collecting a 30-14-3 record in 47 games. The 6-foot and 190-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario broke his own team records by registering a 2.43 goals-against average and .923 save percentage this season and tied the team standard by registering three shutouts, equaling Chuck Thuss, who picked up three shutouts in 1998-99 and 2000-01. Gardner became Mississippi�s all-time career goaltending wins leader by earning his 59th victory, surpassing Thuss, on March 21 at Texas, making 37 saves in the Sea Wolves 3-2 victory. He was named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week on two occasions this year, for December 15-21 and March 15-21. Gardner, who is in his second season with Mississippi and fourth year of professional hockey, was assigned to Mississippi by Rochester of the American Hockey League on October 16.


Offensive Player of the Year � Steffon Walby, Right Wing

Walby, 31, led Mississippi with 55 assists and 88 points, which was also second in the ECHL. The 6-foot and 200-pound Walby also tied Louis Dumont for the team lead with 33 goals and his plus/minus of +32 along with Brent Gauvreau, tied for the new team record. Walby, the Sea Wolves captain for third consecutive season, was named to All-ECHL First Team for a third consecutive year. A native of Lodi, Wisconsin, Walby was selected as a starter and captain for the Western Conference at the 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game and scored a goal in the contest on January 21 at Peoria. He also won the Accuracy Shooting event at the ECHL All-Star Skills Competition, hitting four targets in eight shots. Walby was named Sher-Wood ECHL Player of the Month for December, 2003 and was named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week from November 10-16, 2003. Walby tied a Mississippi team record, along with Patrick Rochon, by registering assists in nine consecutive games, 16 overall, from November 7 to December 12.  Walby, who is in his 11th season of professional hockey and third year with the Sea Wolves, is Mississippi�s career leader in goals (117), points (270), power-play goals (43) and shorthand goals (11). 


Defensive Player of the Year � Steve O�Rourke, Defense

O�Rourke, 29, led all Sea Wolves defensemen in plus-minus rating with a plus/minus of +27. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound O�Rourke finished with five goals, 27 points and 96 penalty minutes in 70 games. A native of Red Deer, Alberta, O�Rourke was named runner up for InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week for the week of January 19-25. He is in his first season with Mississippi and fifth professional season.


Best New Player � Louis Dumont, Center

Dumont, 31, tied for the team lead in goals with 33, along with Steffon Walby, and tied for fourth overall in the ECHL with 84 points. The 5-foot-10 and 180-pound Dumont also registered a plus/minus of +30 and was one of only two Mississippi players to appear in all 72 games, joining Kerry Ellis-Toddington. Dumont became the ECHL all-time career scoring leader by netting a goal on November 27, which was his 690th league point, surpassing Rod Taylor, and on March 21, Dumont became the league�s all-time career assist leader by registering two helpers for a total of 461, surpassing Chris Valicevic. A native of Westaskiwin, Alberta, Dumont was also selected as Mississippi�s Player of the Month for February and was named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week for February 16-22. Dumont continues to rank among the ECHL all-time career leaders in several categories including first in points (754), first in assists (465), seventh in goals (289), and third in games played (634). Dumont is in his first season with Mississippi and 10th season in the ECHL and professional hockey.