Shane Harper Named Portland Pirates 2015-16 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year

March 31, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


Portland, ME - The Portland Pirates are proud to announce that Shane Harper has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Portland community during the 2015-16 season.

In his first year as a member of the Pirates organization, Harper has already made an impact both on and off the ice. He is currently ranked second in scoring with 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points, but his work away from the rink has garnered the Valencia, California native just as much notoriety.

Harper consistently leads by example, taking the time during every community event to create a memorable experience with fans around the rink, while visiting area schools and during monthly trips to the local children's hospital. His commitment to making a difference has made a significant positive impact on how the Pirates organization as a brand is viewed around Portland.

In his seventh professional season the forward has been deeply involved in the Pirates participation in community initiatives with the local children's hospital. He led the team's teddy bear delivery, ensuring special visits with patients and their families. He befriended one of team's youngest fans battling a rare form of bone cancer by offering a fist bump of encouragement and a shared love for the Star Wars character Yoda.

Harper spearheaded player participation in Read Across America Day, where he read books and danced alongside elementary school children to promote healthy living. He supplied the students with tickets to Pirates games as rewards for their participation.

Harper's enthusiasm and energy make him a magnet for the fans. During a mid-season injury in which he missed 16 games, Harper generously donated his time signing autographs for fans during intermissions, taking his time to personalize each one, asking every person for their name and if they were enjoying the game. He makes a seemingly immediate connection with each person with whom he has contact.

Harper continuously goes above and beyond in his efforts to give back to the Greater Portland community. Those efforts were highlighted during a meet-and-greet with a family whose son is in remission from Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Harper was involved in every step of making it a memorable experience for the family, including giving them a tour of the locker room, introducing them to the team and making sure they had some memorabilia to take home with them.

Shane Harper has been a model for community involvement and has represented the Portland Pirates with integrity, and boundless energy.

Harper is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL's 2015-16 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 at a later date.



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