Carkner Wins American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year Award
Published on March 30, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release
The Cleveland Barons are proud to announce that Matt Carkner has been named the Barons winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Cleveland community and charitable organizations during the 2003-04 season.
With twelve rookies on the roster, Carkner has had to do more than just play hockey this season. As the Barons Assistant Captain, Carkner has accepted his position as a team leader and role model. The biggest testament to his impact on the team lies in "Carkner's Christmas".
Matt and his wife Kary organized "Carkner's Christmas", a program designed to provide gifts to "level-4 needs" children. In conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland, Carkner delegated a child to each member of the Cleveland Barons roster. Each child wrote a list of needs and wants to be fulfilled by the players. Items purchased for the children included shoes, socks, jackets, underwear, and even mattresses.
Matt and Kary then visited Mary Bethune Elementary School, Bolton Elementary School, and Alfred Benesch Elementary School over a two-day period to deliver the gifts to the children. With parents and other family members in attendance, the Carkner's delivered the gifts along with Santa Clause and Barons mascot SlapShark.
Matt and Kary were also on the director's board for the 2004 Cleveland Barons/Doug Dieken Charity Benefit. The third annual event, which was attended by over 300 people, raised funds for Cleveland Barons Charities and the Doug Dieken Foundation, which serves as the primary support for the Cleveland Public Schools Special Olympics Program.
In all, Carkner has made over 20 appearances in the community during the 2003-04 season. Matt was a finalist for the Cleveland Sports Man of the Year given annually by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
In recognition of his efforts, Carkner will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to the opening puck drop on Friday, April 9th.
Carkner 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.
Barons tickets can be purchased at all TicketMaster Outlets, the Gund Arena Box Office, and charge-by-phone by calling 216-241-5555. More information about the Barons is available by calling 216-420-0000 or by Crashing The Net at www.clevelandbarons.net.
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.
