MORGAN NAMED ROCKFORD ICEHOGS' 2007-08 AMERICAN SPECIALTY/AHL MAN OF THE YEAR

Rockford, Ill.-The Rockford IceHogs are proud to announce that center Gavin Morgan has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Rockford community during the 2007-08 season.

Morgan has served as a leader on and off of the ice for the IceHogs during the 2007-08 season.

Off the ice Morgan helped organize a team initiative over the holidays in which the IceHogs raised money and bought Christmas presents for children in the local HUGS program. HUGS is a program that benefits children and families of teenage parents. Overall, four families were presented with gifts courtesy of the IceHogs.

Morgan was also involved with the Jr. IceHogs hockey program. The Jr. IceHogs youth hockey program is run through the Rockford Park District. Morgan attended practices and assisted coaches throughout the course of the ’07-08 season.

Another program that Morgan was adamantly involved in was the IceHogs Runts Club Hockey Clinic. Morgan was one of four players who served as an instructor for the clinic that was held in January.

On the ice, Morgan serves as one of the IceHogs Alternate Captains. Morgan has provided leadership on one of the youngest clubs in the AHL.

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

Morgan is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL’s 2007-08 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall 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 AHL in the coming weeks.

Next Home Game: Friday, March 28 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:30 p.m. One of the quickest growing rivalries in the AHL rekindles at the MetroCentre when the IceHogs take on the Wolves. The first 1,000 fans to the game will pick up an IceHogs player figurine courtesy of Wheels By RT and FOX 39. Players featured on the figurine include Cam Barker, Mike Blunden and Martin St. Pierre.