Ryan Cousins became the first player to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons. Cousins captained the Swarm to a franchise-best 10-6 record in 2008.
COUSINS WINS EDGE DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Minnesota defender wins award in back-to-back seasons
05/12/2008
Ryan Cousins of the Minnesota Swarm is the winner of the league's Edge Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. The defenseman played in all sixteen of Minnesota's regular season games and anchored the defense on a Swarm club that finished the regular season with a 10-6 record. The ten wins marked a franchise-high for the Swarm in its four-season history, and they hosted their first-ever home playoff game this season. "Ryan is our captain and the main ingredient in our quick transition from expansion team to competitor", said Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill. "He is always assigned to stop one of the top two offensive players among our opponents and does a great job. He's just as valuable in our dressing room as a vocal leader, with great character and tremendous people skills. He also has the green light to head up the floor when he sees a scoring opportunity". Cousins scored nine goals and five assists for fourteen points during the season. Two of his goals were game-winning scores in overtime.
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