AHL Rockford IceHogs

Hayes Named IceHogs Man of the Year, Clendening Earns 2nd Team All-Star

Published on April 11, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Rockford, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs are proud to announce that Jimmy Hayes has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Rockford community during the 2012-13 season.

Since beginning his professional hockey career in Rockford two seasons ago, Jimmy Hayes has been one of the leaders in the community for the IceHogs.

Through the IceHogs' Adopt-A-School program, Hayes befriended the hearing impaired class at Lincoln Middle School. For the past two years, Hayes has made regular visits to the class, and eventually inspired the group of students to "sign" the national anthem at a recent IceHogs game. The class regularly sends him letters, including a congratulations card for his first career hat trick on March 9 and for his birthday.

From the first week he arrived in Rockford this season where he volunteered to scoop ice cream with his teammates at Cold Stone Creamery for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to surprising an un-expecting young fan last week to fulfill his wish to make a pizza with his favorite player, Hayes has been a positive role model for IceHogs fans during his time in Rockford.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation event was a part of the organization's "World's Largest Ice Cream Social" that took place at Cold Stone. Hayes joined his teammates in working behind the counter, scooping and serving ice cream and helping raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Last Thursday, April 4, Hayes received a letter from a nine-year-old fan, Alec, who mentioned that he thought it would be cool to make a pizza with his favorite player (Jimmy of course!) at his parent's pizza restaurant. Hayes jumped at the chance and that afternoon surprised Alec and his brother by stopping by Anna's Pizza in Winnebago, Ill. and made a pizza with them.

Even when he was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks in March, his commitment to the community did not curtail as he volunteered for a youth hockey clinic in Chicago.

Other community events that Hayes has volunteered his time for include school reading nights, the IceHogs sock drive to benefit homeless children, youth hockey practices and hospital visits.

Hayes is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2012-13 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 on Apr. 18.

CLENDENING NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-STAR

Rookie earns AHL's All-Star honors

Rockford, Ill. - The American Hockey League announced on Thursday that Rockford IceHogs rookie defenseman Adam Clendening has been named to the 2012-13 AHL All-Star Team, earning Second Team honors.

The Niagara Falls, New York native has set IceHogs rookie records in assists (36) and points (43), and his point total also ranks fifth among Rockford skaters. The blueliner shares a team lead in plus/minus rating, showing a +14 in 69 contests throughout his rookie campaign.

Clendening also ranks in the top-10 amongst AHL rookie scoring leaders. His 36 assists rank second among all AHL rookies and are good for tied-11th overall in the AHL, as well.

Earlier in the year, the rookie d-man was selected to represent Rockford at the 2012-13 AHL All-Star Classic in Providence, R.I. - along with IceHogs captain Martin St. Pierre.

Clendening joins Springfield goaltender Curtis McElhinney, Syracuse defenseman Mark Barberio, Texas winger Matt Fraser, Hershey center Jeff Taffe and Syracuse winger Brett Connolly on the AHL's Second Team All-Star honors.

The AHL's First Team All-Star honors went to Providence goaltender Niklas Svedberg, Oklahoma City defenseman Justin Schultz, Norfolk defenseman Sami Vatanen, Sprinfield winger Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Syracuse center Tyler Johnson and Grand Rapids winger Gustav Nyquist.

Next Home Game: Friday, April 12 vs. Chicago Wolves at 7:05 p.m. It's Fan Appreciation Night as Rockford hosts the Chicago Wolves in an Illinois Lottery Cup matchup and for the final home game of the regular season. The first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles will pick up an IceHogs team photo and prizes will be handed out at every whistle.

Check out the Rockford IceHogs Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2013


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