AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Brandon DeFazio Named Penguins' 2011-12 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year

Published on April 2, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are proud to announce that Brandon DeFazio has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton community during the 2011-12 season.

In his rookie season after a four-year collegiate career at Clarkson University, DeFazio has already made his presence felt both on and off the ice. He is currently tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals, but his work away from the rink has garnered the Oakville, Ontario native just as much notoriety.

All season long DeFazio has been one of the first Penguins to step up to the plate for the team's community appearances. WBRE-TV followed Brandon and teammate Paul Thompson as the pair partook in the 98.5 KRZ Kares for Kids program that donated presents to local children in need around the holidays. Brandon has gone on numerous appearances for the Penguins during the season, including Read Across America Day and also befriended one of the team's young fans battling Relapsed Neuroblastoma.

DeFazio is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2011-12 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/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 American Hockey League in the coming weeks.




American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2012


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