Denis Hamel named Sens' 2005-06 Man of the Year
April 4, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Binghamton Senators are proud to announce that winger Denis Hamel has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the Binghamton community during the 2005-06 season.
Hamel, in his third season with the Sens and first as the team captain, took responsibility in the dressing room this season for organizing player appearances at several community events including the "FEN-SENS Golf Tournament," the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Light the Night Walk" and the Muscular Dystrophy Association's "Spaghetti on Ice Dinner." Hamel has become one of the Sens most recognizable faces through his efforts in the community including numerous school and hospital appearances and public service announcements for the American Red Cross.
The character that has made Denis such a popular player in Binghamton was especially evident during the Senators' first annual Face Off Against Cancer in February. Hamel, and former Senators Andy Hedlund and Chris Kelly, had spent time with local teenager and hockey fan, Kelly O'Day, as she battled an aggressive form of cancer. O'Day lost her battle with cancer on Jan. 4, 2006 and Hamel shortly thereafter asked the Senators' organization to raffle his 2006 AHL All-Star jersey to raise money for a fledging scholarship fund in O'Day's name. One of the 100 raffle tickets Hamel had purchased to kick off the raffle was selected as the winner and Denis promptly presented his jersey to the surprised and tearful mother of Kelly O'Day. The raffle raised $1,700 for the scholarship fund.
In recognition of his efforts, Hamel will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Senators home game.
Hamel 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.
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