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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Gervais Named Monsters Man of the Year

April 2, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


The Lake Erie Monsters are proud to announce that Bruno Gervais has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Northeast Ohio community during the 2014-15 season.

Gervais is a true leader both on and off the ice. Through his leadership and consistent proactive requests to get out into the community, the Monsters were able to impact more than 1,000 children in Northeast Ohio through various arms of our community program.

For the first time in franchise history, the entire team participated in every event for the Monsters Season of Giving led by his efforts. Bruno organized his teammates into small groups and encouraged them to go shopping for an assigned kindergartener at Stepstone Academy, a charter school in one of Cleveland's most underserved communities. Each group purchased warm clothing and toys specifically for each child. In many cases these would serve as the only presents these kids would receive during the holidays. Bruno organized a visit to the classroom with the entire team to deliver the gifts and hosted a small holiday party that included hot chocolate, arts and craft time, and a visit from Santa!

Additionally, as part of the Season of Giving, the full team sponsored a family in need to shop for through Cleveland's Salvation Army's "Adopt a Family" program for the holidays. Each year the Salvation Army has hundreds of families coming through their shelter doors with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Our team was able to provide one family with simple household items for the holidays to get them started in their new life. Bruno personally led the teams' efforts in providing these items for a family desperately in need.

Seven players led by Gervais visited Cleveland Metro Health hospital to give toys to children within the hospital. The team visited children within the burn unit, pediatric cancer wing as well as the pediatric intensive care unit. Many of these children spent the holidays within the hospital and the teams visit was a welcomed breath of fresh air.

This season The Monsters welcomed Make-a-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana to the Saturday, February 21st game. Four local wish kids visited the game, and then got to meet Gervais along with a few other players in the locker room before face off. Each wish kid also participated in special fan experiences during the game, including the ceremonial puck drop. Gervais along with the rest of the team wore special sweaters that were auctioned off to support Make-a-Wish and their efforts.

After successfully holding the titles of player and team captain, Gervais has traded in his skates for an apron on several occasions. He has helped serve meals to many local homeless in Cleveland including a stop at St. Herman's House of Hospitality located near downtown. Gervais has assisted in this program which provides three meals a day, 365 days a year, to many who rely on it. He has done everything from preparing and serving food to washing dishes, along with anything else St. Herman's asked to help serve these meals to the homeless.

Gervais has made an enormous impact on the ice, in the locker room and throughout the community. He has integrity, cares about his community, gives back as much as he can and appreciates the fans around him. His ability to connect with the community and for his dedication to numerous charitable causes throughout the 2014-2015 season made him a perfect candidate for The Lake Erie Monsters IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year.

Gervais is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2014-15 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 later this month.

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