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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Tom McCollum Named Griffins' 2015-16 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year

March 31, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins are proud to announce that Tom McCollum has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Grand Rapids community during the 2015-16 season.

This season, McCollum has enhanced his already established relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids with his involvement and participation in the Flagstar Floor Hockey program that was launched in January. McCollum also continued his tradition of teaming up with Flagstar Bank to donate four season tickets to the Boys & Girls Clubs.

For the second straight season, McCollum hosted a free one-hour clinic in December for a number of 4th-to-12th grade goalies from the Griffins Youth Foundation, with the help from teammate Jared Coreau. After the on-ice session, they held a 30-minute Q&A with the participants and their parents.

McCollum is the only three-time IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year nominee in the franchise's 20 seasons.

A native of Sanborn, N.Y., McCollum has been tireless in community involvement throughout his seven seasons with the team, embodying the core values of both the Griffins and the city of Grand Rapids. He has been an eager participant at all of the franchise's charitable events this season including the Tip-a-Griffin fundraiser for the Griffins Youth Foundation, skating and interacting with fans at the Great Skate Winterfest to raise funds for the Youth Foundation, taking part in the annual sled hockey game with the Grand Rapids Sled Wings and serving beverages at the Corks, Pucks and Brews for Easter Seals Michigan.

The 26-year-old goaltender has always been proactive in using his station in life for the betterment of the younger generation, impacting the lives of children at hockey practices, hospitals and elementary schools. McCollum has also been an ardent supporter of the West Michigan Special Needs Hockey Association.

McCollum 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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