AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Richards named Griffins' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year

Published on March 30, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins are proud to announce that defenseman Travis Richards has been named the Griffins' winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Grand Rapids community and charitable organizations during the 2003-04 season.

In addition to his stellar play on the ice, worthy of his starting role as the captain of the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team, Richards is an exemplary contributor to the West Michigan community. This season, Richards joined Fuel Systems to start two new programs, "Captain's Quarters" and "Captain's Caravan."

Through Captain's Quarters, 25 tickets to each home game were donated to deserving community groups, with the special section at Van Andel Arena identified by a Captain's Quarters banner.

Captain's Caravan featured three events linking Richards and kids from St. John's Home. In November, Richards and several other Griffins hosted kids for a skate at the Griffins' practice facility, Griff's IceHouse. Later that day, Richards and one of his teammates joined approximately 30 kids from St. John's Home to participate in some outdoor and indoor activities before enjoying a big, pre-Thanksgiving Day meal. The children from St. John's Home were also treated to a bowling event, which included dinner at a local bowling alley.

In addition to these programs, Richards and Fuel Systems are donating $75 for each point he registers this year to St. John's Home as a part of the Griffins' "Charitable Goals" program. As of today, that total is $1,575.

Along with his teammates, Richards swapped his hockey stick for an apron for this year's "Tip-A-Griffin" fundraiser, as Griffins players served as waiters and bartenders at five Applebee's locations in the Grand Rapids area. All tips and donations received by Griffins personnel and Applebee's employees during the event were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grand Rapids, raising a record $13,083.

Recently, Richards appeared at a Family Fare grocery store as a part of the Griffins' "Grocery Baggin'" promotion. For each sack of groceries bagged by a Griffins player, Family Fare donated a dollar to ACCESS (All County Churches Emergency Support System). Topping it off, Richards has also made several appearances at local hospitals, schools and youth hockey practices throughout the season.

In recognition of his efforts, Richards will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming home game.

Richards is now one of 28 finalists for the 2003-04 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. The league award, named after the former Hershey Bears forward who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia, will be presented during the 2004 Calder Cup Final.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2004


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