ECHL Bakersfield Condors

2006 CCM Man of the Year voting is on

April 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


Condors choose Eric Neilson for League's Community Award

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The ECHL in association with The Hockey Company announced that nominations are now being accepted for the CCM Man of the Year award, presented to an ECHL player for his outstanding community service as well as sportsmanship both on and off the ice.

It is our honor and pleasure to nominate forward Eric Neilson as the Bakersfield Condors CCM Man of the Year.

Eric Neilson has a reputation for being an enforcer on the ice, but when it comes to the Bakersfield community he's all heart. Since arriving in Bakersfield last September he has gone above and beyond to show his appreciation for the community. He has made more than a dozen individual and team appearances many times staying longer than his teammates to make sure each child receives his attention. Own his own Eric has sought ways to give back to the community that supports the team.

"Eric is a well rounded-young man, whose compassion for the less fortunate extends beyond his years," said Mark Pederson, Assistant Coach. "He works hard on and off the ice without looking for gratitude in return."

He has taught a class through Junior Achievement, a hockey clinic at the Boys & Girls Club, read countless books to children, graded science fair projects and learned sign language in order to "talk" with a special class.

Jeff Attard of the Las Vegas Wranglers won the inaugural CCM Man of the Year award in 2004-05, finishing ahead of Chris Minard of Alaska and Cam Brown of Gwinnett in online voting that saw more than 1,000 entries submitted.

CCM will again donate a set of helmets, gloves and apparel to a youth hockey team of the winner's choice. The Hockey Company is the exclusive supplier of hockey sticks, helmets, visors, gloves, pants and protective equipment for all 25 teams in the ECHL as well as an official supplier of authentic and replica jerseys. The Hockey Company also has the exclusive rights to supply ECHL on-ice officials with jerseys, visors, helmets, and pants.

"CCM is proud to partner with the ECHL in honoring the 2006 CCM Man of the Year. This award was created to recognize an ECHL player that works hard on the ice and in the community, who shows commitment to the game and who is true to his work ethic and beliefs, which embodies the CCM spirit," said Len Rhodes, Vice-President Global Marketing for The Hockey Company. "The 2006 CCM Man of the Year is truly born to play."

Beginning Monday and continuing through Apr. 15, fans will be able to log onto ECHL.com to cast ballots for the CCM ECHL Man of the Year.

The fan votes will be tabulated in conjunction with votes from ECHL general managers and coaches to determine the CCM ECHL Man of the Year. Entries can also be submitted by clicking the "CCM ECHL Man of the Year" advertisement on the ECHL.com Network banner.

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Buy Tickets

Individual game tickets are on sale now and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena box office, which is open 10am - 6pm Monday through Friday and 10am - 4pm on Saturdays with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com, or at any Ticketmaster location.

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ECHL Stories from April 10, 2006


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