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AHL Texas Stars

Derek Hulak Named the Texas Stars 2015-16 IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year

March 31, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at the Team's
Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at the Team's "Science of Hockey" Program
(Texas Stars)

CEDAR PARK, Texas - The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars, are proud to announce that Derek Hulak has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Cedar Park community during the 2015-16 season.

This is the second straight season Hulak has received the honor. The 26-year-old forward has been the face of the Stars' "Science of Hockey" program this year. Hulak has joined his teammates in multiple fifth-grade classrooms in the area, where students are shown a video of the how science plays a role in hockey. Players then help the students complete a workbook and provide demonstrations of the scientific concepts discussed in the video. Hulak also supported the team's community relations efforts at multiple appearances this season, including visiting with children at Lakeline Mall's Santa Village during the holiday season. This spring, he entertained fans by learning ice cream slinging tricks at Amy's Ice Creams.

The Texas forward has participated in a number of events to benefit the Texas Stars Foundation, helping the Foundation raise money to be able to distribute grants to community organizations in the Central Texas area. Hulak joined his teammates for both of the Foundation's signature fundraisers this season, "Bowling with the Stars" in November and "Stars at Your Service" in March. At the fall event, he joined a bowling team of fans and participated in a live auction for his bowling shirt at the end of the night. At March's inaugural "Stars At Your Service" event, he served guests and then joined them for dinner, and also contributed to the fundraising by donating a player basket filled with some of his favorite items. At the end of the dinner, Hulak participated in a live auction for his personalized chef's jacket, and solicited "tips" from fans during the evening. In addition, Hulak helped raise funds for the Foundation and local organizations through multiple jersey auctions this season.

Hulak is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2015-16 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 at a later date.

The Texas Stars are the primary development affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars and currently in their seventh season at Cedar Park Center. Full season, 24-game and 12-game ticket packages for the 2016-17 campaign are on sale now. For more information, call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit TexasStars.com.

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Images from this story

Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at Amy's Ice Creams
Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at Amy's Ice Creams
 Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at the Team's
Derek Hulak of the Texas Stars at the Team's "Science of Hockey" Program
  

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