CHL Announces Athletic Trainer, Equipment Manager Of The Year
March 12, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
(Tempe, Arizona) - The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the winners of the 2009-10 Athletic Trainer of the Year and Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year determined by voting among the equipment managers and athletic trainers from the CHL. Tulsa's Stuart Nichols has been selected the Athletic Trainer of the Year, while Colorado's Tony Deynzer earns the honor of being named the Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year.
Nichols is in his third stint as the athletic trainer for the Oilers initially joining the team in 1999. He worked the 2003 CHL All-Star Game in Oklahoma City and previously worked a National Hockey League training camp for the Los Angeles Kings. Recently, the University of Arkansas graduate was named the first athletic trainer for the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA which begins play at the BOK Center this summer. Amarillo's Kevin Heise, who serves as the Gorillas athletic trainer and equipment manager, finished second in the voting by just one point.
Deynzer has been with the Eagles since the team's first season (2003) and has been very decorated in his time in the CHL working three CHL All-Star Games (including this season's all-star game in Laredo), four Ray Miron President's Cup Finals and has been a part of two Championship teams. The Peoria, Illinois native has worked in the sport of hockey since 1995 when he was the equipment manager for the Springfield Junior Blues of the North America Hockey League (NAHL). Other stops for Deynzer include his hometown of Peoria, Louisville, Memphis, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Tupelo, Mississippi and St. Charles, Missouri. Finishing second in the voting for the award was Allen's Patrick Stevens, who previously won the award in 2008 with the Rocky Mountain Rage.
The CHL Man of the Year will be announced on Monday, March 15 with the remaining CHL Awards announced throughout the week. The CHL Most Valuable Player recipient will be announced Monday, March 22.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2010
- Eagles Win 11-6 in Record-Setting Game - Colorado Eagles
- Bucks Clinch Playoff Berth, Tie Texas For Third - Laredo Bucks
- Rush Lose First Game in Overtime, 5-4 to Americans - Rapid City Rush
- Special teams fuel Americans' 5-4 OT win over Rapid City - Allen Americans
- Mavs Fall to Odessa in Shootout, 4-3 - Kansas City Mavericks
- RiverKings Blast Brahmas 7-3 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Jacks Top Missouri in Shootout, 4-3 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Ugly game serves for ugly loss, lose 7-3 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Wichita clips Amarillo - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Squashes Gorillas - Wichita Thunder
- Mavericks Host Ryan Christian Love Fund Auction Saturday - Kansas City Mavericks
- CHL Announces Athletic Trainer, Equipment Manager Of The Year - CHL
- Go Green Week, Pooch On The Pond This Sunday - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks Add Fletcher To Roster - Laredo Bucks
- Gorillas on 1550 AM Saturday, "Throwback Game" Tonight - Amarillo Gorillas
- Josh Chase Returns To Jackalopes - Odessa Jackalopes
- Shots From The Point - CHL
- RiverKings Open Home Weekend Vs. Brahmas Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
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.
