Ajay Baines Named Hamilton Bulldogs' 2007-08 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year

Published on March 27, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ON - The Hamilton Bulldogs are proud to announce that forward Ajay Baines has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hamilton community during the 2007-2008 season.

Baines, a 30-year-old native of Kamloops, British Columbia, has made the greatest commitment to the community and charitable organizations over the course of the season. He was the player representative for the Bulldogs' annual ‘TD Canada Trust Smiles on Ice' game, an event that has now raised over $225,000 for McMaster Children's Hospital in the last 12 years. The ‘Dogs Captain is also one of the team leaders in regularly scheduled player appearances to minor hockey practices, schools and autograph signings, including many unscheduled appearances in which Baines took it upon himself to enrich the lives of those less fortunate.

Suffering from Type 1 diabetes since the age of 16 and wearing an insulin pump at all times on the ice, Baines won the 2007 Canadian Diabetes Association's Regional Inspiration Award earlier this season. The CDA's Regional Inspiration Award is intended to recognize either an individual or family who has overcome great odds to manage their diabetes and continue to live a fulfilling, active and inspiring life. The individual or family has achieved success in their personal life or community, in spite of the diagnosis of the disease.

Baines became a representative of one of the Bulldogs Foundation's new educational programs, "Read Like a Pro." Players such as Ajay and the team's mascot Bruiser would visit local schools, read to students and invite students to read to them to encourage literacy and reading. He was also the Bulldogs' head table guest at the 57th Annual B'Nai Brith Sports Celebrity Dinner, and was heavily involved in the Foundation's "Cool to Care" anti-bullying event.

Now a three-time winner of the award, Baines was previously named the Norfolk Admirals' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year twice in 2000-2001 and 2004-2005. In recognition of his efforts this season, Baines will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Bulldogs home game.

Baines is also now one of 29 finalists for the AHL's 2007-2008 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall 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 AHL in the coming weeks.

The Bulldogs return to the ice tomorrow night (Friday, March 28th) at 7:05 p.m. when they travel to Wachovia Arena at Casey Place to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Fans can listen to every Bulldogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the ‘B2 Networks' or ‘820 CHAM' icon on the ‘Dogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 20 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time.

Hamilton's next home game is on Saturday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. when they host the Lake Erie Monsters at Copps Coliseum. Tickets for all ‘Dogs home games are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666. For more information or to purchase season tickets call 905-529-8500, e-mail tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2008


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