March 29, 2018
Lehigh Valley, Pa. – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, proud AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, are proud to announce that Danick Martel has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Lehigh Valley community during the 2017-18 season.
The Phantoms’ 2016-17 IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year, Martel continued his work this season in helping to foster the ongoing development of youth hockey in the Lehigh Valley. A staple at Steel Ice Center in Bethlehem, Danick participated in at least one practice for a dozen different Phantoms Youth teams this season. What’s more, he continued his work with Special Hockey of the Lehigh Valley, a program that gives individuals with special needs and developmental difficulties the chance to enjoy the game of hockey. Finally, he made time on a game day to attend the first-ever sled hockey clinic held in the Lehigh Valley.
In addition, Martel attended one of the team’s Phantoms Fit appearances where Phantoms players provided skills and drills training as part of a comprehensive floor hockey equipment donation made by Phantoms Charities. During these appearances, he not only introduced students to a variety of hockey skills but also employed his outgoing and energetic personality in encouraging students to participate alongside the players.
Finally, he was a regular attendee during team visits to the children’s wing at Lehigh Valley hospital and made special in-person ticket deliveries to a handful of Phantoms season ticket holders before the season began.
Martel is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2017-18 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/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 at a later date.
Bound for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Phantoms return to action with a pair of games at PPL Center this weekend. First, on Friday, March 30, it’s a clash between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division when first-place Lehigh Valley hosts the Providence Bruins in downtown Allentown. Then, on Saturday, March 31, the Phantoms welcome the Belleville Senators to PPL Center for the first only time this season. Saturday’s game is Fan Appreciation Night and features a T-Shirt Giveaway to the first 6,500 fans in attendance. A limited number of tickets remain for both games and are available HERE.
