IceHogs' Holden Named Team's AHL Person of the Year
May 12, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
In his 13th season with the IceHogs, Head Equipment Manager Russ played an integral role with hockey operations for several seasons and has helped the team overcome the challenges that have been presented to the industry over the past two seasons, earning him the team's selection as the IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year. With the constant battle with COVID-19 over the past two seasons, Holden has gone above and beyond keeping the team safe through his role with the team. Through elevated protocols established by the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, Russ has been diligent in upholding those strict guidelines and has been meticulous with the sanitization of the player's equipment and locker room areas whether the team plays at home or on the road to ensure the health and safety of the players, coaches and staff.
Russ was recognized during the team's 2021-22 award ceremony prior to their regular-season finale on Apr. 30 at BMO Harris Bank Center. Full Story
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2022
IOWA WILD'S DAKOTA MERMIS NAMED WINNER OF
2021-22 YANICK DUPRÉ MEMORIAL AWARD
Chosen from among 31 team winners of IOA/American Specialty
AHL Person of the Year awards
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that Iowa Wild defenseman Dakota Mermis has been selected as the winner of the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award for 2021-22.
Over his six seasons as a player in the American Hockey League, Mermis has placed an emphasis on making positive contributions to his community. In 2021-22, his first season in Des Moines, Mermis stepped into and embraced a leadership role both on and off the ice. With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - and the birth of his first child in December - altering his approach, Mermis, along with his wife, Sarah, remained steadfast in believing in the importance of community work.
Among his many endeavors, Mermis teamed up with the Urbandale Community Action Network to provide essentials such as winter clothing and food supplies to local families in need around the holiday season. He also covered the cost for UCAN families to have special experiences at Wild games, enjoying a night out when they might normally not have the means to do so. Mermis was heavily involved in the team's Pucks 'n' Paws Day featuring a visit to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, as well as the Wild's annual Pink in the Rink game for cancer awareness.
With a positive attitude and genuine humility, Mermis has helped the entire Iowa Wild organization continue to be a pillar of the greater Des Moines community.
Mermis's selection comes from a field of 31 team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year award for their respective cities. Traditionally acknowledging a player for his outstanding contributions to his local community, this season the league expanded the Person of the Year program to allow teams to recognize individuals who played an important and perhaps unexpected role in supporting their organization and/or impacting the local community as the AHL again navigated through a season impacted by COVID-19.
This year's team winners of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year awards are:
Abbotsford Canucks ¬â¢ Noah Juulsen, Defenseman
Bakersfield Condors ¬â¢ Ryan Holt, Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting
Belleville Senators ¬â¢ Breanne Matthews, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Bridgeport Islanders ¬â¢ Samuel Provost, Community Engagement Manager
Charlotte Checkers ¬â¢ Mary Grams, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
Chicago Wolves ¬â¢ Ivan Lodnia, Forward
Cleveland Monsters ¬â¢ Ben Adams, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications
Colorado Eagles ¬â¢ Kevin McGlue, Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting
Grand Rapids Griffins ¬â¢ Kyle Criscuolo, Forward
Hartford Wolf Pack ¬â¢ Jared Degler, Assistant Athletic Trainer
Henderson Silver Knights ¬â¢ Gabe Mirabelli, Director of Enterprise Operations
Hershey Bears ¬â¢ Dan "Beaker" Stuck, Manager of Wellness and Team Affairs
Iowa Wild ¬â¢ Dakota Mermis, Defenseman
Laval Rocket ¬â¢ Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Forward
Lehigh Valley Phantoms ¬â¢ Trevor Herrick, Director of Sales
Manitoba Moose ¬â¢ Jimmy Oligny, Defenseman
Milwaukee Admirals ¬â¢ Mike Wojciechowski, Vice President of Business Development
Ontario Reign ¬â¢ Cameron Gaunce, Defenseman
Providence Bruins ¬â¢ Nick Neary, Video Coach
Rochester Americans ¬â¢ Kent Weisbeck, Assistant Athletic Trainer
Rockford IceHogs ¬â¢ Russ Holden, Equipment Manager
San Diego Gulls ¬â¢ Jeff Goduti, Team Services Manager
San Jose Barracuda ¬â¢ Nick Nollenberger, Media Relations and Broadcasting Manager
Springfield Thunderbirds ¬â¢ Jim Syner, Boomer
Stockton Heat ¬â¢ Brandon Weiss, Director, Communications
Syracuse Crunch ¬â¢ Jackie Decker, Community Relations Manager
Texas Stars ¬â¢ Anthony Louis, Forward
Toronto Marlies ¬â¢ Rich Clune, Forward
Tucson Roadrunners ¬â¢ Bokondji Imama, Forward
Utica Comets ¬â¢ Damion Parmelee, Equipment Manager
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ¬â¢ Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Defenseman
Presented annually since 1998, the AHL's Yanick Dupré Memorial Award honors the late Yanick Dupré, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 24 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. A second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1991, Dupré played four seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears and was an AHL All-Star in 1995.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
American Hockey League Stories from May 12, 2022
- Zac Dalpe Completes Hat Trick with Double OT Winner in Game 2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Checkers Beat Islanders in Double-Overtime - Bridgeport Islanders
- Dalpe Scores in Double Overtime to Give Checkers 2-0 Series Lead - Charlotte Checkers
- Hogs Fall to Wolves in Game 1 of Central Division Semifinals - Rockford IceHogs
- Hogs Fall to Wolves in Game 1 of Central Division Semifinals - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Rule Game 1 - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins Lose Game 2 in Springfield, 6-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Hofer's Historic Goalie Goal Puts Icing on Game 2 Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Fall to Rocket, 4-1, in Game 3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Spotlight 29 Jointly Announced as the Official and Exclusive Founding Casino Partner of the Coachella Valley Firebirds - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Nick Neary Named Providence Bruins 2021-22 IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year - Providence Bruins
- Wolf Pack Represtened at 2022 IIHF Men's World Championship - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Ben Adams Named Cleveland Monsters 2021-22 IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year - Cleveland Monsters
- Boko Imama Named Roadrunners Person of Year - Tucson Roadrunners
- Jimmy Oligny Named Moose Winner of IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year - Manitoba Moose
- Jared Degler Named Wolf Pack Team Winner of AHL's IOA/American Speciality Person of the Year Award - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Lodnia Nominated for AHL's Yanick Dupre Award - Chicago Wolves
- IceHogs' Holden Named Team's AHL Person of the Year - Rockford IceHogs
- Mary Grams Named Charlotte Checkers' Person of the Year - Charlotte Checkers
- Comets Name Equipment Manager Parmelee IOA/American Specialty Person of the Year Winner - Utica Comets
- Joseph Named WBS IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sam Provost Named Bridgeport's 2021-22 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - Bridgeport Islanders
- Gaunce Named IOA/American Specialty Person of the Year - Ontario Reign
- Jeff Goduti Named San Diego Gulls 2021-22 IOA/American Specialty AHL Person of the Year - San Diego Gulls
- Iowa's Dakota Mermis Named Winner of Yanick Dupré Memorial Award for 2021-22 - AHL
- Weisbeck Named Amerks' Winner of IOA/American Specialty Person of the Year Award for 2021-22 Season - Rochester Americans
- Iowa Wild Defenseman Dakota Mermis Selected as Winner of Yanick Dupré Memorial Award - Iowa Wild
- Kyle Criscuolo Honored as Griffins' Person of the Year - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Islanders Look to Even Playoff Series Tonight - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs and Wolves Open Central Division Semifinals Tonight in Rosemont - Rockford IceHogs
- Kids Free for Game Three this Sunday - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Pettersen Pots Game-Winner as Heat Take 2-0 Series Lead - Stockton Heat
- Pettersen Pots Game-Winner as Heat Take 2-0 Series Lead - Stockton Heat
- Ontario Loses to Colorado 10-1 - Ontario Reign
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