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Winnipeg Free Press winner of AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award

July 17, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, is pleased to announce the Winnipeg Free Press has been named the winner of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award as the top sportswriters or newspaper in the AHL in 2008-09.

The James H. Ellery Memorial Awards are presented to individuals in newspaper, television, and radio for outstanding media coverage of the American Hockey League.

As the senior hockey writer at the Winnipeg Free Press, Tim Campbell has been covering the Moose since they were formed in 1996 and has been on the American Hockey League beat since the Moose joined the AHL in 2001. In all, Campbell has been covering hockey for the Free Press for 22 years. This season, his efforts were highlighted by such projects as the city of Abbotsford's pursuit of the an AHL franchise and how it would affect the Moose and his study of the evolving relationship between the Moose and their NHL affiliate, the Vancouver Canucks. Campbell also visited the AHL offices in mid-season to sit down with AHL President Dave Andrews to discuss a number of issues that interest Moose fans and the league, as well as his in-depth research into the AHL perspective on the movement to ban fighting in pro hockey.

Gary Lawless has been with the Free Press for over 10 years covering primarily hockey, baseball, and football. Lawless' coverage of the Moose was largely as a columnist who not only attended every Moose home game in addition to Campbell, but also traveled with the team on occasion. Lawless is also co-host of the radio sports show "Hustler & Lawless" which airs every weeknight on CJOB 680 AM, the home of the Moose. Lawless' knowledge and commitment to his coverage of both the Moose and the American Hockey League was demonstrated numerous times during the past season.

The Winnipeg Free Press, in general, provided consistently outstanding coverage of the Moose as the only local daily that traveled on the road with the team throughout the season. With the addition of lead columnist Randy Turner, the Free Press was often represented by as many as three writers at most home games. Turner provided a different, often irreverent perspective on both the issues and personalities that made up the Moose this past season. The Free Press also devoted a great deal of time and effort to covering Manitoba's many community efforts such as the annual holiday visit to the Children's Hospital or the team's trip aboard a Hercules Airplane during the team's visit to 17 Wing to honor Canada's military.

Other winners of the AHL's James H. Ellery Awards this season include NHL Home Ice on XM Radio in the radio category, while Kevin Shea of Charter TV-3 in Worcester, MA was named the winner in the television cartegory.

This marks the second time in four years a member of the Manitoba Moose media has been awarded the James H. Ellery Awards as former CJOB 680 AM broadcaster and Moose play-by-play man Kelly Moore won the award in the radio category back in 2006.



American Hockey League Stories from July 17, 2009


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