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Grand Rapids Griffins

Amadio Named Griffins' 2010-11 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year

March 28, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins are proud to announce that defenseman Greg Amadio has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the West Michigan community during the 2010-11 season.

Amadio, 29, has long been an enthusiastic leader of the Griffins' outreach efforts, dating back to his first stint in Grand Rapids (2004-06) when he was named co-winner of the team's 2006 community service award. After earning consecutive Calder Cups with Hershey the last two years, he returned to Grand Rapids and has once again been involved in nearly every community endeavor this season.

Most notably, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native made a special on-ice appearance during the second intermission of the Griffins' Feb. 25 game to have his long hair cut and donated to Locks of Love. His last haircut had been in June 2009, just after he won his first championship with Hershey.

The rugged blueliner was always eager to lend a hand to the team's community efforts, volunteering four times to visit patients at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. He attended local youth hockey practices, made a Stick With School appearance at Kent Hills Elementary, participated in a coat drive at Guiding Light Mission, served food at God's Kitchen, pumped gas during the team's Pumping Gas fundraiser, and signed autographs after several games.

He was particularly active during the holiday season, giving his time and energy to decorate the women and children's safe house at Safe Haven Ministries, shop for underprivileged children with the Grand Rapids Jaycees, and help the Griffins front office host a party for students from Harrison Park Elementary.

Amadio also participated in several full-team functions that benefited a variety of charities, including the Pups and Pucks Fall Walk-a-Thon (Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary), the Griffins versus Sled Wings sled hockey game (Sled Wings and Griffins Youth Foundation), the Great Skate Winterfest (Griffins Youth Foundation), and numerous booster club events.

In addition to the Man of the Year honor, Amadio will receive $500 as the winner of the Griffins' community player of the year award, sponsored locally by Centennial Securities and Dean Foods.

Amadio is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2010-11 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League in the coming weeks.

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