*Thrashers give coach Curt Fraser contract extension*
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ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Thrashers on Wednesday rewarded
coach Curt Fraser for his team's "hard work and gutsy play,"
giving him a contract extension.  Terms were not disclosed. 

Fraser, who has a history with general manager Don Waddell, has
been the Thrashers' only coach since they joined the NHL in
1999. Atlanta went a league-worst 14-61-4-7 during its expansion
season before going 23-45-12-2 in 2000-01. 

The Thrashers have not been able to compete on a talent level,
but they have taken on the scrappy personality of their coach,
who had 1,306 penalty minutes during a 12-year playing career. 

"The integrity, perseverance and leadership that he embodied as
an NHL player continue to be equally evident behind the bench,"
Waddell said.  "(Fraser) demands the most from his players and
they have responded with hard work and gutsy play." 

Waddell hired Fraser in 1995 as the first coach of the Orlando
Solar Bears in the now-defunct International Hockey League.  He
went 192-111-25 in four years with Orlando, twice advancing to
the Turner Cup Finals. 

From 1978-90, Fraser, 43, played in 704 NHL games, recording 193
goals and 240 assists for Vancouver, Chicago and Minnesota.  He
had 33 points and 198 penalty minutes in 65 playoff games. 

st 10-03-01 16:31 et