Belak Named Sound Tigers Man Of The Year
Published on March 30, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, are proud to announce Graham Belak has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the Bridgeport-area community and charitable organizations during the 2003-04 season.
A Sound Tiger for all three seasons of the franchise's existence, Belak is a fixture in the community relations department and actively solicits appearances and school visits.
Belak was instrumental in the success of the Sound Tigers first involvement with "Read Across America Day", in which ten different schools were visited by players and staff who read to children in celebration of Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday.
After the Sound Tigers' third-annual holiday "Teddy Bear Toss" Belak visited Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital to distribute stuffed animals and even found his way into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to visit with patients and their families.
Belak made the Sound Tigers' first-ever Scout Sleepover a huge success by surprising all of the children and their parents with an unplanned visit, which made the night a truly special and memorable event.
Belak has never failed to come through with his help with appearances for the past three years, even when requests are made at the last minute. He even left Bridgeport at the end of last season promising to be this year's Man of the Year and, true to his word, has been an invaluable member of the community relations team making his mark on the Fairfield and New Haven County communities with his enthusiasm and commitment to involvement.
In recognition of his efforts, Belak will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming home game.
Belak is now one of 28 finalists for the 2003-04 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. The League award, named after the former Hershey Bears forward who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia, will be presented during the Calder Cup 2004 Final.
American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2004
- Toby Petersen named Penguins' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Ducks rally to defeat Rampage - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Kelly Named St. John's Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Toronto Marlies
- Phantoms Flier - Adirondack Phantoms
- Hymovitz Named Finalist for American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Binghamton Senators
- Zinger Named Pirates 2003-2004 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Portland Pirates
- Parma Native Joins Syracuse, Will Play In Cleveland On Sunday - Cleveland Barons
- Belak Named Sound Tigers Man Of The Year - Bridgeport Islanders
- Stirling Recalled, Macri Released - Bridgeport Islanders
- Thrashers Send Santala, Heins to Chicago - Chicago Wolves
- Duncan Milroy named Hamilton's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Casey Hankinson named American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Kings Assign Barney And Gleason To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Muir Named Manchester's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Manchester Monarchs
- Olson named Rampage's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - San Antonio Rampage
- IceCats Announce 2003-04 Man of the Year - Worcester IceCats
- Paul Traynor Named Syracuse's 2003-04 American Specialty/AHL Man of The Year - Syracuse Crunch
- Raymond Giroux named River Rats' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Albany River Rats
- Obsut Finallist for AHL Man of the Year - Manitoba Moose
- McCarthy named Falcons' 2003-04 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Springfield Falcons
- Clark named Hershey's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Hershey Bears
- Pirates Help Make-A-Wish Celebrate Milestone - Portland Pirates
- American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year winners announced - AHL
- P-Bruins begin stretch of four games in five nights - Providence Bruins
- Gernander named Wolf Pack's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Connecticut Whale
- Richards named Griffins' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Shawn Thornton named dmirals' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Norfolk Admirals
- Barons Can Clinch Playoffs On Wednesday - Cleveland Barons
- Carkner Wins American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year Award - Cleveland Barons
- Mike Gellard named P-Bruins American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Providence Bruins
- Cullen is Aeros 2003-04 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Houston Aeros
- Skalde Named Grizzlies 2003/04 American Specialty/AHL Man ofthe Year - Utah Grizzlies
- Deschenes named Phantoms' 2003-04 AHL Man of the Year - Adirondack Phantoms
- Columbus Reassigns Pandolfo and Fritsche - Syracuse Crunch
- St. John's Maple Leafs Fight Cancer Weekend - Toronto Marlies
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Four games could determine Griffins' fate - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Crunch Playoff Tickets on Sale Thursday, April 8 - Syracuse Crunch
- Brett Draney Sent to Idaho for Conditioning - Utah Grizzlies
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
