Carkner named Barons 2005-06 Man of the Year
April 4, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release
CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Barons are proud to announce that defenseman Matt Carkner has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Cleveland community during the 2005-06 season. This is the third consecutive year Carkner has been honored with this award.
During his five years in Cleveland, Carkner has become one of the most community-oriented athletes in Northeast Ohio and has been a finalist for the prestigious Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Community Award the past three years.
This December, Carkner and his wife, Kary, helped spread the spirit of the holidays with his annual "Carkner's Christmas" campaign. The Carkners' team up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland to purchase Christmas presents for "level-4 needs" children, which is a child which lacks the necessities that are needed for day-to-day life. The Carkners' then assign each member of the Barons team to purchase the gifts on the child's needs and wants list. With the help of other Barons players, Matt delivered the presents to the children at their schools over a two-day period.
Throughout the season, Matt remains committed to the city of Cleveland and the Barons fans through his attendance at each community event, including the four National City Breakaway with the Barons and both Hockey Night at Harpo's with the Barons. He is usually the first player out for an event and the last to leave and can often be found interacting with the Barons fans and community members.
In recognition of his efforts, Carkner will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Barons home game.
Carkner is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL's 2005-06 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 later this month.
The Barons will return to National City Rink located in The Q on Wednesday, April 5 against the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7:05pm. Tickets for the game are on sale now at The Q Box Office and through all ticketmaster locations. For more information contact the Front Office at 216.420.0000 or Crash The Net at www.clevelandbarons.net.
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