ICEHOGS PRESENT THE 2012-13 TEAM AWARDS

Pirri and St. Pierre named Co-MVPs

Rockford, Ill.- The 2012-13 Rockford IceHogs team awards were presented on Friday before the IceHogs’ home regular season finale at the BMO Harris Bank Center against the Chicago Wolves. In all, nine awards were handed out.

For the first time in the team’s AHL era, the IceHogs named Co-MVP’s. Centers Brandon Pirri and Martin St. Pierre were named Co-MVPs as the combo lead the IceHogs in scoring and are the only skaters to have appeared in every game this season for Rockford.

Pirri, in his third season, paces the Hogs with 63 through 72 games. Pirri’s point total is currently tied for the second most in the AHL. The center is Rockford’s all-time leading point scorer as he has racked up 162 points, including 55g-107a in 208 career games with the IceHogs.

St. Pierre is in his second stint with Rockford and is the team’s second all-time leading point producer. This season, the team captain has 25g-31a-56pts in 72 games and was named to the AHL All-Star Classic for the fifth time in his career. Combined with the 2007-08 campaign, his first in Rockford, St. Pierre has 144 points in 141 career games with the IceHogs.

Ryan Stanton was named the team’s Best Defenseman for the second straight season. Stanton is tied for the team lead with a plus/minus rating of +14 entering play on Friday. The blueliner has also set career highs in assists (21) and points (24).

Adam Clendening garnered the team’s Rookie of the Year Award. The first year d-man has set IceHogs rookie records for assists (36) and points (43). Clendening was named an AHL Second Team All-Star and to the AHL’s All-Star Classic.

Another defenseman was honored on Friday as Klas Dahlbeck was given the team’s Most Improved award. Playing in his first season in North America, the Katrineholm, Sweden native has developed as one of the steadiest d-men on the IceHogs. Dahlbeck boasts a plus/minus rating of +8 through 66 games to go along with four assists.

Third-year winger Ben Smith earned the team’s Unsung Hero Award. Smith has battled through injuries this season and still has managed 19g-17a-36pts in 50 games this season. Smith’s 2011-12 campaign was also cut short due to injury.

Goalie Carter Hutton was named the IceHogs’ Fan Favorite after a vote was conducted on the IceHogs Facebook page.

The other two awards handed out were the IceHogs’ Man of Year to Jimmy Hayes, which was announced on Thursday by the AHL and the team’s Leading Scorer Award to Pirri.