ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones John Hamel Named Conference PR Director of Year

June 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL announced this afternoon that Director of Public Relations and Broadcasting John Hamel has been named the American Conference's ‘Public Relations Director of the Year.' The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate for the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators of the NHL.

Hamel, 41, is in his second season of work with the ECHL Cyclones and his sixth season with the club between their stints between the IHL (1996-97 through 1999-2000) and now. Sandwiched in between is a six-year stint at SportsPlus in Evendale, where John spent four years as the Ice Director. SportsPlus is presently the practice home of the Cyclones.

The Jackson, Michigan native directed the public relations efforts for the Kelly Cup champions. The Cyclones turned in a 55-12-1-4 (.799 winning percentage) record during the season, tying an ECHL record for most road wins (26) and capturing the Brabham Cup for compiling the league's best record. The 115 standings points are the second-most ever accumulated and the 55 wins are the second-most in the 20 year history of the league. The squad assembled an ECHL-record 17 game winning streak from Jan. 16 through Feb. 29. It was only the third time in league history that a team won both the Kelly Cup and Brabham Cup in the same season.

A three-time member of the International Hockey League's ‘Public Relations Staff of the Year' while with the Cyclones (1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000), Hamel has also spent time with a marketing company that specialized in NASCAR public relations-working specifically with driver Jeff Burton (1995-96). He was also the first person ever promoted to the position of Associate Sports Information Director at the University of Cincinnati during his three year stint (1992-1995). John also worked as Assistant Sports Information Director at Eastern Michigan University (1990-91)-where he graduated in 1989 with a degree in Telecommunications and Film.

The National Conference winners of the ‘Public Relations Directors of the Year' were the staff of the Victoria Salmon Kings (Jeff Harris and Mike Walker).

The Cincinnati Cyclones open the 2008-09 season at Wheeling on October 17 and host their first home game on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm against the Dayton Bombers. Season tickets are currently on sale. The most up-to-date information and broadcast of the games can be found on our website www.cycloneshockey.com.

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