AHL Manchester Monarchs

Gauthier Named Monarchs American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year

Published on March 27, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - The Manchester Monarchs are proud to announce that center Gabe Gauthier has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Manchester community and charitable organizations during the 2007-08 season.

Gauthier has become the spokesman for the Manchester Monarchs in the community and on the ice during his second season with the club. Gauthier takes pride in spreading a good message and spending time with children in the community. He enjoys talking about the Monarchs and bringing fans into his world as a professional athlete.

Gauthier is a huge advocate for the Monarchs new Winning With Wellness program and D.A.R.E. Graduation program. In partnership with D.A.R.E. New Hampshire and the New Hampshire State Police, the Monarchs have a D.A.R.E. Graduation Video that includes members of the Monarchs and a drug-free message for area youth. Monarchs' players, including Gauthier, speak about the importance of staying away from drugs and alcohol. Gauthier is able to speak honestly about the dangers and temptations kids face nowadays, and what he faced growing up. He shares his personal experiences of having a family member addicted to drugs and how he was able to learn from the situation. Gauthier conveys the importance of staying focused on your dreams and how saying no has helped him to achieve his goal of being a professional hockey player.

Winning With Wellness allows kids to interact with players in an educational setting. It is geared toward both elementary school and middle school children and features Monarchs players visiting schools throughout southern New Hampshire to discuss the importance of living and maintaining healthy lifestyle through a good diet and exercise. Gauthier jumps at the opportunity to go to local schools to speak with the children on a more personal level and share his story with them.

Cheryl Abbott, the Monarchs Senior Vice President, describes Gauthier as "an inspirational role model for our organization. His ability to speak to children of all ages regarding health and wellness for the Monarchs Winning With Wellness program and his personal experiences of staying drug free is remarkable. He is able to convey the importance of saying no to drugs and living a healthy lifestyle in a way that youth today understand."

In addition to the Monarchs Winning With Wellness program and the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program, Gauthier has also participated in the Monarchs annual Kids Club Party and Season Ticket Holder Meet & Greets, youth hockey practices, Booster Club meetings, the Monarchs Care Foundation Golf Invitational, open practices, the Monarchs Care Foundations At Your Service Dinner and Extreme Makeover Home Edition's furniture move-in.

Along with meeting members of the community, Gauthier speaks with them every Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. when he goes in studio and on the air with radio personality Charlie Sherman on the Monarchs flagship radio station WGIR 610 AM. Gauthier also recorded public service announcements for both radio and television encouraging the use of helmets to avoid head, neck and spinal cord injuries in partnership with the New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute.

"Gauthier enjoys working in the community," said Abbott. "His professionalism and steadfast dedication to youth and society is key to spreading the right message. His enthusiasm and energy is contagious and students are able to take that positive influence into their daily lives."

In recognition of his efforts, Gauthier will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Monarchs game.

Gauthier is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL's 2007-08 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 in April.

The Monarchs travel south to battle the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope on Friday, March 28 at 7:15 p.m. Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGIR-AM 610 and at www.manchestermonarchs.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto www.manchestermonarchs.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to each Monarchs game to watch the game live!

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2008


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