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AHL Providence Bruins

Sigalet Receives Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award

April 7, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, member of the American Hockey League, announced today that goaltender Jordan Sigalet has been named the league's 2007-08 recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey. The Hunt Award, voted upon by the players, coaches and media members around the AHL, was instituted during the 1977-78 season in tribute to Fred Hunt, who served as a player, General Manager and Governor in the league, earning six Calder Cup championships.

Sigalet, 27, is in his third professional season out of Bowling Green State University and third as a member of the Boston Bruins organization. While in his junior season with the Falcons in March, 2004, Sigalet was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the central nervous system with unpredictable and wide-varying symptoms such as fatigue, numbness, paralysis and vision loss.

Earlier this season, midway through the third period of a home game against the Worcester Sharks on November 16, 2007, Sigalet lost consciousness in front of his net and collapsed in the crease, having to be cut out of his gear and carried off the ice on a stretcher. The episode attributed to his M.S. caused the goaltender paralysis from the waist down. Sigalet was hospitalized for two weeks before spending an additional two weeks at a rehab facility to rebuild his strength and walk on his own again. He rejoined his teammates at practice shortly before Christmas and made his return to game action at home on January 11, stopping all 18 shots he faced in 36 minutes of relief versus the Sharks.

"It was special," Sigalet said at the time of returning to game action against Worcester, the team he had last faced. "It kind gave me a chance to finish the game I started back in November."

Sigalet responded to the outing by winning his next three starts, including another versus Worcester. The net-minder is currently playing his best hockey of the season, having won his last five appearances dating back to mid-March. On the year, the native of New Westminster, British Columbia, is 12-5-1 with a 2.52 goals-against-average and a .903 save percentage over 19 games. His totals come after leading Providence with 15 wins, three shutouts and a .915 save percent a year ago. Drafted by Boston 209th overall in the seventh round of the 2001 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Sigalet has been called upon by Boston on four occasions over his three years, seeing his only NHL action in one minute of scoreless relief of Andrew Raycroft on January 7, 2006 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sigalet's battle with M.S. off the ice is a constant one, and he continues to build awareness and raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research through his website, www.shutoutms.com, as well as through his partnerships with EMD Serono and the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Providence last boasted a Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award winner when Kent Hulst received the award in 2000-01 when he split his final season between the P-Bruins and Portland Pirates.

The P-Bruins return to action to close out the regular season next week with four games in five nights, beginning Wednesday, April 9 at the DCU Center against Worcester at 7:05 p.m. Providence is back at the Dunkin' Donuts Center to begin a home-and-home series with the Manchester Monarchs on Friday for Team Poster Giveaway Night at 7:05 p.m. The posters, free to the first 3,000 fans in attendance, are courtesy of ABC 6, University Orthopedics, Dunkin' Donuts and your New England Dodge Dealers. Saturday's game at Manchester's Verizon Wireless Arena begins at 7:05 p.m. The regular season ends on Sunday at home versus the Lowell Devils at 4:05 p.m. The contest is a Family Game, as fans can purchase one ticket, one hot dog and one soda for just $16.

2008 Calder Cup Playoff Packages are on sale now with Providence set to take on Manchester in the Atlantic Division Semi-Finals, beginning with Game 1 on Wednesday, April 16 at The Dunk. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Providence Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or log on to www.providencebruins.com. Tickets may be purchased in person by visiting the Dunkin' Donuts Center Box Office or all TicketMaster outlets.

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