AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Valiquette Named Sound Tigers' Man Of The Year

March 26, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT – The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, are proud to announce Goaltender Stephen Valiquette has been named the team's 2002-2003 American Specialty/HG Insurance/AHL Man of the Year. The award honors the player adjudged to have made the greatest commitment to his community and charitable organizations throughout the course of the season.

Not even a broken foot could keep Valiquette from a busy schedule of community activities. While on the mend during the months of December and January, he actively solicited appearances from the team and visited area schools at a pace of nearly one every day. He also served as a volunteer analyst for Sound Tigers' radio broadcasts while out of the lineup with his injury.

Valiquette spearheaded the Sound Tigers' two Celebrity Bartender events which raised over $5,000 for several local charities, Children's Connection of Norwalk in particular.

Children hold a special place in the big netminder's heart. In schools, Valiquette usually stays longer than the scheduled time for an appearance and has been known to tell kids, families, teachers, etc. to say hello if they attend a game at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard and then spend time chatting with them both before and after games. He even went out of his way to left the spirits of eight-year-old Robert Savo of Trumbull who injured his knee while playing goal and was forced to miss his entire hockey season following surgery. Valiquette gave Robert's family tickets to a game and surprised the youngster with a goal stick which had been autographed by the entire Sound Tigers' team.

Valiquette was very active in toy deliveries to local hospitals following the teams' holiday "Teddy Bear Toss". He even plowed his way through a storm that blanketed the area with eight inches of snow to take part in one of the deliveries, scheduled for Norwalk Hospital, even though it had to be rescheduled because of the weather.

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

Valiquette is now also a finalist for the AHL's 2002-2003 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award honoring the overall American Specialty/HG Insurance/AHL Man of the Year. One player will be selected from the 28 individual team award winners to be honored during the Calder Cup 2003 Finals as the 2002-2003 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award winner.

The Yanick Dupre Memorial Award is named after the late Yanick Dupre, who passed away in August of 1997 at the age of 24, following a 16-month battle with leukemia. Dupre played four seasons with the Hershey Bears (1992-96) registering 169 points (70-99) in 207 AHL games. He also played in 35 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers.

American Specialty is the industry leader in providing risk services for the sports and entertainment fields. HG Insurance Services, Inc., is a full-service, national brokerage specializing in sports, entertainment and program business.

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