AHL Chicago Wolves

Darren Haydar Named Chicago Wolves 2011-12 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year

Published on April 2, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


The Chicago Wolves are proud to announce that Darren Haydar has been named the team's winner of the IOA/ American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Chicago community during the 2011-12 season. Haydar's splendid career warranted his selection as the Western Conference captain for the 2012 AHL All-Star Game, but he has been just as stellar of a performer away from the rink during his four seasons with the Wolves.

Haydar has served as the linchpin of multiple Wolves outreach initiatives this year, including the Wolves Wish program that reaches out to families affected by cancer. As part of "Haydar's Heroes," the 32-year-old forward treated several young cancer survivors to backstage tours of the team's facilities after games and practices.

Haydar's season-long service began in October when he became the team spokesman for the Wolves' "Stick It to Breast Cancer" promotion that raised thousands of dollars for A Silver Lining Foundation, which provided mammograms for women who otherwise couldn't afford them. The following month, he won the title of "Mr. Movember" for the mustache he grew to symbolize the battle against prostate cancer. In January, one of his game-worn purple Cancer Survivors specialty jerseys went for more than $4,000 at auction.

Haydar spends so much time helping cancer-related charities in part because his wife, Sara, has required more than 20 surgeries over the last four years to defeat Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

"I think it gives me a way where I can connect with someone who's going through something like that," Haydar said. "I think that helps out. It's a way of creating a relationship where they feel they've got a connection as well." Haydar also spearheaded the effort for the team's Adopt-A-Dog program this year. In conjunction with Chicago's Animal Care and Control, "Haydar's Hounds" found happy homes for nearly 100 dogs that had been stuck in the overcrowded shelter.

Haydar 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.

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