AHL announces 2003-04 Ellery Award winners
Published on June 29, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today the 2003-04 recipients of the James H. Ellery Memorial Awards, presented annually by the league in recognition of outstanding media coverage of the AHL in three categories.
This year's winners are Bridgeport Sound Tigers beat writer Mike Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post (in the newspaper category); Hershey Bears director of broadcasting and media relations John Walton (radio); and the Chicago Wolves and Comcast Cable (television).
Widely recognized as one of the most dedicated and professional writers around the AHL, Mike Fornabaio once again provided the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the American Hockey League with first-rate coverage for the Bridgeport-based Connecticut Post in 2003-04. Fornabaio, who covered the league for the paper even before the Sound Tigers' debut in 2001, follows the team both home and away, even turning his and the team's experiences on the road into entertaining feature stories. His weekly columns in the Post are considered one of the most comprehensive and insightful in the AHL.
A former public address announcer at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, John Walton joined the Hershey Bears in 2002 after three years with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. In 2003-04, Walton called all 80 Bears games on the radio, lent his talents to Hershey's local television broadcasts and authored a weekly column on the team's Web site, fielding questions and keeping Bears fans informed on the latest happenings from around the AHL. Walton also compiled the club's 2003-04 media guide, the most complete record book in the 66-year history of the AHL's oldest franchise.
The Chicago Wolves entered into a multi-year agreement with Comcast Cable in 2003 to air live every one of the team's regular-season and playoff games, home and away, to the company's 1.6 million customers in the greater Chicago region. This all-inclusive schedule, unprecedented in AHL history, also included branding availability for the Wolves, Comcast and the AHL, including commercial placement, signage and other cross-promotional opportunities.
The James H. Ellery Memorial Awards, which were first presented in 1964, honor the late Mr. Ellery, who served the American Hockey League for 17 years as league secretary and publicity director.
Entering its 69th season this fall, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. The 2003-04 season saw 28 teams compete for the coveted Calder Cup, and more than 6.6 million fans attending AHL games across North America for the third straight year. Over 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and more than 400 players took the ice in both leagues.
American Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2004
- Lowell Lock Monsters Summer News - Albany Devils
- IceCats Sign Four Players - Worcester IceCats
- Mike Fornabaio Wins Ellery Award - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears play-by-play man John Walton named 2004 Ellery Award winner - Hershey Bears
- AHL announces 2003-04 Ellery Award winners - AHL
- Moose Yearling Foundation Raises Over $148,000 for Children's Charities - Manitoba Moose
- Season ticket sales brisk as renewal deadline approaches - Binghamton Senators
- Spend July 4 with Aeros at Street Fleet - Houston Aeros
- Gernander returns, Conacher is the boss in Utah - Hershey Bears
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