Hamel Named Binghamton Senators' 2007-08 American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year

Published on March 27, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Binghamton Senators are proud to announce that left wing 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 2007-08 season.

Denis returned to Binghamton this season as the fan favorite both on and off the ice. He devotes as much time and energy to community initiatives as he does to his hockey game. Denis, along with the rest of the Binghamton Senators team, participated in the annual Binghamton Senators Charity Golf Classic in early October. The event raised more than $20,000 for the Family Enrichment Network.

Denis was front and center at the annual art workshop with the Magic Paintbrush Project, a unique, painting workshop where players and handicapped children paint, make a mess and have fun. Of course, Denis was on the first school visit of the year, answering questions about hockey, Canada, the penalty box and much more. As he often does, he stayed longer than expected to sign autographs for all the kids.

Perhaps the event that displays Denis' commitment to being such a great leader and community oriented player was the annual Toys for Tots spaghetti dinner. The B-Sens teamed up with the local classic rock station, 99.1 The Whale, in an effort to collected new gifts for disadvantaged children. The event started at 4 and ran until 9 p.m. The players worked as celebrity waiters and bartenders at the restaurant in one-hour shifts. Denis spent the entire five hours waiting tables, talking with patrons and helping to make the event a huge success.

The fourth annual Spaghetti on Ice event, to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, was a huge success thanks in large part to Denis and his enthusiasm at the event, making people laugh and getting the other players really into the event. In the end, the fourth annual Spaghetti on Ice event brought in $10,097, a new record.

He took time to sign autographs for two hours at LJ's Sports Cards and Collectibles followed by a heartwarming visit with Matt Carkner to the Renal Care Center at Binghamton General Hospital. Denis spent two hours lifting spirits of patients there to receive the long and tedious dialysis treatment. The patients were thrilled that the players took time out of their schedule to stop and chat.

The three-time All-Star also led a group of players at a fundraising dinner for the SOS Shelter, a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence.

In addition to these appearances set-up through the team, Denis also took it upon himself to visit a French class at Binghamton High School several times this year to speak to the students in French.

Early in the season Hamel was informed that Binghamton police sergeant Geno DeAngelo was very sick and likely only had a few weeks to live. Hamel was also informed that DeAngelo had four young sons. He led a group of players to visit the DeAngelo home. Denis brought along pucks, T-shirts and other autographed items for the four boys. The players sat and talked with family, bringing a smile to the boys' faces during a difficult time.

With the Binghamton Senators annual Face Off Against Cancer game set for April 5, Denis, along with Matt Carkner, are doing their best to raise money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Hamel and Carkner have teamed with the American Cancer Society on a raffle to raise money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Hamel and Carkner hope to raise $10,000 from their raffle to donate to the cause.

Hamel 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 by the AHL in the coming weeks.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2008


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