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WOOD-TV Wins Ellery Award

June 19, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . The American Hockey League announced today that WOOD-TV 8, the NBC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich., has been named the 2001-02 recipient of the James H. Ellery Award in the television category. The award is presented annually to members of the media who have made outstanding contributions to the progress of the AHL in TV, radio and print.

WOOD-TV, under the leadership of sports director Jack Doles, was instrumental in providing outstanding exposure for the league and the Griffins during the club's inaugural AHL season. The station's coverage regularly included interviews, live pre- and post-game reports from Van Andel Arena, and live guests on the weekly Sports Overtime studio show. WOOD also televised several Griffins games and the league's highlight show, AHL Rinkside, on its sister station, WXSP-TV.

Through the efforts of Doles and sports anchors/reporters Jason Terzis and Troy Brettson, WOOD served the Grand Rapids viewing audience as an excellent source of AHL information, including extensive coverage of the Griffins' move to the league last summer, the appearance of the AHL's championship trophy in Grand Rapids during the Calder Cup 2002 Tour, and the Detroit Red Wings' affiliation announcement in January. WOOD also regularly obtained game highlights from other AHL teams and their local affiliates to maintain their high-caliber coverage of the Griffins while the team was on the road.

In recognition of their accomplishment, WOOD-TV will be presented with the Ellery Award prior to a Griffins home game in 2002-03.

The James H. Ellery Award, which was first presented in 1964, honors the late Mr. Ellery, who served the American Hockey League for 17 years as league secretary and publicity director. The 2001-02 winner in the print category will be announced later this week.

Entering its 67th season with an all-time high of 28 teams competing, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League clubs. The 2001-02 season was the AHL's most successful to date, seeing an expansion from 20 to 27 franchises and an all-time high in average attendance, with nearly 6.7 million fans attending games across North America. More than 75 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2001-02 were AHL graduates, and 350 players took the ice in both leagues.

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