Ben is the Wolves' Man
March 27, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
Chicago Wolves center Ben Simon has been named the team's 2002-03 American Specialty/HG Insurance/ American Hockey League Man of the Year. One player from each AHL team has been recognized for his outstanding commitments to his local community and charitable organizations during the 2002-03 season.
Simon, a University of Notre Dame graduate, served as a player spokesman for the Wolves' most successful educational program, "Read to Succeed," sponsored by Fisher Nuts, which has reached nearly 250,000 children in eight seasons. The 24-year-old forward visited more than 40 libraries during the past two years to speak about the role that education plays in his life as a professional athlete and to encourage children to spend more time in libraries; to read recreationally; and to understand the importance of education.
This year, Simon helped implement a program called "Benny's Bunch" and partnered with the Sterling Capital Mortgage Company to allow underprivileged families and children, who normally could not afford such an opportunity, to come out to a Wolves game as Simon's guest. Each child receives an autographed picture of Simon and is able to sit in a special section. Through this new program, more than 150 children from Dundee Boys and Girls Club, the McHenry County Foster Care Alliance and other local charities were able to attend a game.
The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native also participated in multiple other charitable endeavors throughout the year, including the Wolves "Toys for Tots" drive to benefit underprivileged children; the "Get Fed by the Wolves" event to raise money for Special Olympics; a pen pals program to encourage elementary school children to improve their writing skills and annual fundraisers to benefit the Lupus Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and the Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization.
Simon is now a finalist for the AHL's 2002-03 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award honoring the overall American Specialty/HG Insurance/AHL Man of the Year. One player will be selected from the 28 individual-team award winners to be honored during the 2003 Calder Cup Finals as the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award winner.
This award is named after the late Yanick Dupre, who passed away in August 1997 at the age of 24, following a 16-month battle with leukemia. Dupre played four seasons with the Hershey Bears (1992-1996), registering 169 points (70G, 99A) in 207 games. He also played in 35 National Hockey League games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
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