April 3, 2004

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL on Saturday announced that Gwinnett center Kevin Doell is the recipient of the 2003-04 CCM® ECHL Rookie of the Year Award as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches. Doell becomes the second skater in a row to win the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the ECHL.

Atlantic City left wing Jon Cullen finished second in the voting followed by San Diego right wing Greg Barber, Wheeling goaltender Nick Boucher, Roanoke forward Carl Mallette and Atlantic City defenseman Brian Fahey.

Named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team on Wednesday, Doell leads ECHL rookies with 33 goals and seven game-winning goals while ranking third among rookies and tied for 15th overall in scoring with 74 points (33g-41a) in 62 games. Born in Saskatoon, Sask., the 24-year-old Doell is third among rookies in plus-minus rating with +28 and ranks fifth in assists with 41.

Named the CCM® ECHL Rookie of the Month for February and also the InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week for February 2-8, the 5-11 and 190-pound Doell leads Gwinnett in goals with 33, points with 74 (33g-41a), power-play goals with 10, shorthand points with four (2g-2a), and game-winning goals with seven.

Doell, who has tied the team record with four goals in a game two times, is tied for first on the team with two shorthand goals and two shorthand assists while ranking second in assists with 41, plus-minus rating with +28, power-play assists with 14, and power-play points with 24 (10g-14a).

Doell is under contract to Chicago of the American Hockey League and has been recalled to the AHL twice, scoring a game-winning goal and two points (1g-1a) in eight games. Gwinnett is 1-8-0 in games without Doell in the lineup and 40-14-8 when he plays for the Gladiators.

The ECHL will announce the ECHL Defenseman of the Year recipient for 2003-04 on Sunday, April 4.

CCM® ECHL Rookie of the Year Award Winners

2003-04 Kevin Doell, Gwinnett Gladiators
2002-03 Jason Jaffray, Roanoke Express
2001-02 Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators
2000-01 Scott Stirling, Trenton Titans
1999-00 Jan Lasak, Hampton Roads Admirals
1998-99 Maxime Gingras, Richmond Renegades
1997-98 Sean Venedam, Toledo Storm
1996-97 Dany Bousquet, Birmingham Bulls
1995-96 Keli Corpse, Wheeling Thunderbirds
1994-95 Kevin McKinnon, Erie Panthers
1993-94 Dan Gravelle, Greensboro Monarchs
1992-93 Joe Flanagan, Birmingham Bulls
1991-92 Darren Colbourne, Dayton Bombers
1990-91 Dan Gauthier, Knoxville Cherokees
1989-90 Bill McDougall, Erie Panthers
1988-89 Tom Sasso, Johnstown Chiefs

~*Jazzy*~