Moore Named Worcester AHL Man of Year

WORCESTER – Worcester Sharks President and CEO Michael T. Lehr announced that former Princeton standout Mike Moore has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Worcester community during the 2008-09 season.

The first year professional, and former volunteer fire fighter, has taken the initiative to go above and beyond in regards to community outreach and has established himself as a leader in the Worcester community.

Mike’s most successful endeavor was his player toy drive, “Give Moore for the Holidays.” He initiated the toy drive by rallying his teammates to participate by purchasing over $3,000 worth of toys for children from Community Healthlink of Worcester. He invited the recipients and their families to the DCU Center to receive the gifts following the Sharks December 20th game.

The 24-year-old from Calgary, Alberta has become the spokesperson for the Worcester Sharks flagship community program, “Be a Leader.” He has taken the lead at ten assemblies to over 3,000 students throughout central Massachusetts and has endeared himself to local educators. Mike is also a 2008 graduate of Princeton University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Some of his 2008-09 achievements include:

* Organized and executed the “Give Moore for the Holidays” player toy drive
* Took the lead at ten “Be a Leader” assemblies to over 3,000 students
* Participated in six “Reading is Cool” appearances in over 16 classrooms
* Made several visits to Worcester area hospitals
* Instructed two Worcester Sharks Street brigades (street hockey clinics)
* Appeared in over twenty Team Community appearances

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

Moore is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL’s 2008-09 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 American Hockey League in the coming weeks.