
Guillaume Desbiens Named Manitoba's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year
March 25, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release
The Manitoba Moose are proud to announce veteran forward Guillaume Desbiens has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Manitoba community during the 2009-10 season.
In only his second season with the Moose, Desbiens has already become one of the team's most recognizable and popular players. On the ice, the Alma, PQ native has appeared in 59 games so far this season where he's scored 30 points (16g & 14a) along with 127 penalty minutes. He is currently fourth in team scoring. In 137 career games in Manitoba, the 24-year old has 77 points (37g & 40a). He is a physical team leader who's never afraid to stand up for his teammates in any situation.
Off the ice, Desbiens has proven to be an even more special player. He has taken a keen interest in the team's community activities and developed his own relationships with people he's met as part of Moose-sponsored events.
Desbiens has a lengthy list of community initiatives he has participated in this season with the hockey club. He attended Ecole Provencher in mid-February as part of the "Respond to Reading" program in conjunction with Red River College, where he read to French Immersion classes and stressed the importance of reading on a regular basis. He also attended the Rehabilitation Centre for Children in December to visit with young Manitobans who are living with disabilities, either physical or mental. It is here that Desbiens formed a special relationship with a family whose daughter is suffering from severe Cerebral Palsy and is unable to communicate. Desbiens has developed a close bond with the family who now come out to Moose games regularly to watch their favorite player. Desbiens was also one of five players to be involved off-the-ice as part of the first against breast cancer in October where the Manitoba Moose helped raise funds for "Keeping Abreast", a local charity that devotes their time to fundraising for research, state-of-the-art medical equipment and education about breast cancer and the benefits of reconstructive surgery. Desbiens was also one of the six players to participate in the Home Depot Backyard Rink promotion where the players went to a local backyard rink to play shinny with 10 local minor hockey players. Desbiens also volunteered to help out at a few minor hockey practices throughout the season as part of Moose promotional events.
In recognitions of his efforts, Desbiens will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Moose game.
Desbiens is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL's 2009-10 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 dies 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. Former Moose Jimmy Roy was the winner of this award back in 2003.
American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2010
- Bulldogs Recall Maxime Lacroix From Cyclones - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Matt Kassian Named Houston Aeros 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Houston Aeros
- Kearns Named IceHogs' American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves To Present Anderson With Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award - Chicago Wolves
- Moose Release Brandt & Kashirsky From PTO's - Manitoba Moose
- Phlex To Appear At Gliding Stars Ice Show - Adirondack Phantoms
- Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman Named Syracuse Crunch's 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Syracuse Crunch
- Bagnall Named Monarchs 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Manchester Monarchs
- Landon Wilson Named Texas Stars' 2009-10 American Specialty / AHL Man Of The Year - Texas Stars
- On-Ice Passes For KC And The Sunshine Band On Sale Now - Milwaukee Admirals
- AHL Announces Suspensions - AHL
- Sound Tigers Recall Bourbeau From Odessa - Bridgeport Islanders
- Salak, Miller And Cheevers Featured In "Between The Pipes" Card Set - Rochester Americans
- Brodie Dupont Named Wolf Pack's 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Connecticut Whale
- Mike Moore Named Worcester Sharks AHL Man Of The Year - Worcester Sharks
- Eric Neilson Named Bulldogs' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Maki Named Admirals 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Milwaukee Admirals
- Logan Stephenson Named Adirondack's 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Adirondack Phantoms
- Vigilante Named Griffins' 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sterling Named Wolves 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man On The Year - Chicago Wolves
- Paul Baier Named Binghamton Senators' 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Binghamton Senators
- Derek Whitmore Named Portland's 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Portland Pirates
- Ty Wishart Named Norfolk Admirals' 2009-10 America Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Norfolk Admirals
- Kevin Regan Named Providence Bruins Man Of The Year - Providence Bruins
- Josh Tordjman Named San Antonio Rampage's 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - San Antonio Rampage
- Guillaume Desbiens Named Manitoba's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Manitoba Moose
- Fitzpatrick Named Amerks' 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year - Rochester Americans
- American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year Team Award Winners Announced - AHL
- Morency Named Sound Tigers AHL Man Of The Year - Bridgeport Islanders
- Matthew Pistilli Named Albany River Rats 2009-10 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year - Albany River Rats
- David Van der Gulik Named Abbotsford Heat's 2009-10 American - Abbotsford Heat
- Past And Present AHL Players Featured In "Between The Pipes" Card Set - AHL
- Griffins Host Amerks On Winning Wednesday - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Cody Almond - Houston Aeros
- Rampage To Host Face-Off Against Kids Cancer Night This Saturday - San Antonio Rampage
- Falcons Announce New NHL Affiliation Agreement - Springfield Falcons
- Syracuse Crunch And Anaheim Ducks Announce Affiliation - Syracuse Crunch
- Saturday Night's Wolf Pack Game To Air On WTIC NewsTalk 1080 - Connecticut Whale
- Trent Whitfield Recalled By Boston Bruins - Providence Bruins
- Moose Dropped By Bulldogs, 7-1 - Manitoba Moose
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