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Baumgartner named Manitoba's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year

March 26, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose are proud to announce veteran defenseman Nolan Baumgartner has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Manitoba community during the 2008-09 season.

Playing in his fifth season in Moose colors, Nolan Baumgartner is already known for his calming presence on Manitoba's blue line as well as his offensive contributions from the back end. This season, he leads all Moose defensemen with 30 points (9-21-30) however, the Calgary, AB native's compassion and desire to make a difference in the community is also immense.

Even through Baumgartner has enjoyed success in both the NHL and AHL, he has remained a very grounded, down-to-earth personality. As a result, he is a favorite among young hockey fans, not only in Winnipeg, but also in cities across the AHL. After every pre-game warm up whether at home or on the road, Baumgartner makes it a habit of tossing few pucks over the glass to young fans, prompting many letters of praise from both parents and observers.

He also has a very lengthy list of community initiatives he has participated in this season with the hockey club. He attended Island Lakes School in mid-February for the kick-off to the "Respond to Reading" program in conjunction with Red River College, where he read to a kindergarten class and stressed the importance of reading on a regular basis. He also attended the Children's Hospital in December to visit with young patients as the Moose as a team donated over $5,000 to the hospital in various forms, including gifts and donations towards future purchases. Baumgartner was also one of the six players who participated in the Home Depot Backyard Rink promotion where the players went to a local backyard rink to play shinny with 20 local minor hockey players. On his own time, Baumgartner travelled to over a handful of other practices and games for minor hockey teams in Manitoba, as well as making a trip to Fargo to promote the Moose and help out the Fargo community at a Fargo Force game of the USHL.

In recognitions of his efforts, Baumgartner will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Moose game.

Baumgartner is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL's 2008-09 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 dies 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.



American Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2009


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