HOGGAN NAMED WINNER OF AHL'S FRED T. HUNT MEMORIAL AWARD

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The American Hockey League on Monday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan has been named the 2014-15 winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.

The award is voted on by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

A native of Hope, B.C., Hoggan has continuously proven himself to be a leader both on and off the ice. In his third season with the Griffins and 13th as a professional despite being undrafted out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the 37-year-old Hoggan has banked 29 points (14-15—29), 39 PIM and a plus-22 rating this season. On Saturday, he scored the game-tying goal at San Antonio with just 49 seconds remaining, enabling an eventual overtime victory and preserving Grand Rapids’ one-point lead atop the Midwest Division.

Despite being the oldest skater and second-oldest player in the AHL – and being eight years older than any other Grand Rapids forward – Hoggan is one of only two players to appear in all 73 games for the Griffins this season. He has reached double-digits in goals for the eighth straight season and recently celebrated his 200th game as a Griffin and 800th as a pro. His plus-22 rating ranks second among Grand Rapids’ forwards and ties for fourth overall on the team.

Hoggan earned his second Calder Cup in 2013 by captaining the Griffins to their first championship, playing in all 100 regular season and playoff games after having begun the season on a pro tryout. During his three-year tenure as captain, the Griffins have authored the second-most regular season wins (132, one behind Manchester) and most playoff wins (20) of any AHL team, and they and the Texas Stars are the only teams to post a 0.600-plus record in each season. His captaincy is now the second-longest in the franchise’s 19 seasons.

Including his time with the Griffins, Hoggan has skated in 620 AHL games between Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Providence, Worcester and Houston, and 107 more in the NHL with St. Louis, Boston and Phoenix.

Renowned for his work ethic, competitiveness, preparation, and the culture he has helped create in the Griffins’ locker room, Hoggan has mentored more than a dozen players who have since graduated to the Detroit Red Wings and helped that franchise extend its playoff streak to 24 seasons. He is the second Griffin in four years to win the award, following Chris Minard’s selection in 2011-12.

This award, which was first presented by the AHL in 1978, honors the late Fred T. Hunt, a long-time contributor to the league who won three Calder Cup championships as a player and three more as a general manager during a career spent primarily with the AHL’s Buffalo Bisons and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Previous winners of the award include Ross Yates (1983), Glenn Merkosky (1987, ’91), Bruce Boudreau (1988), Murray Eaves (’89, ’90), John Anderson (1992), Tim Tookey (1993), Ken Gernander (1996, 2004), Randy Cunneyworth (2000), Mike Keane (2007), Ajay Baines (2009), Casey Borer (2010), Bryan Helmer (2011), Chris Minard (2012), Brandon Davidson (2013) and Jake Dowell (2014).

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 2014-15 regular season ends Sunday, and then 16 clubs will continue to vie for the league’s coveted championship trophy when the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The American Hockey League on Monday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan has been named the 2014-15 winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.

The award is voted on by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

A native of Hope, B.C., Hoggan has continuously proven himself to be a leader both on and off the ice. In his third season with the Griffins and 13th as a professional despite being undrafted out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the 37-year-old Hoggan has banked 29 points (14-15—29), 39 PIM and a plus-22 rating this season. On Saturday, he scored the game-tying goal at San Antonio with just 49 seconds remaining, enabling an eventual overtime victory and preserving Grand Rapids’ one-point lead atop the Midwest Division.

Despite being the oldest skater and second-oldest player in the AHL – and being eight years older than any other Grand Rapids forward – Hoggan is one of only two players to appear in all 73 games for the Griffins this season. He has reached double-digits in goals for the eighth straight season and recently celebrated his 200th game as a Griffin and 800th as a pro. His plus-22 rating ranks second among Grand Rapids’ forwards and ties for fourth overall on the team.

Hoggan earned his second Calder Cup in 2013 by captaining the Griffins to their first championship, playing in all 100 regular season and playoff games after having begun the season on a pro tryout. During his three-year tenure as captain, the Griffins have authored the second-most regular season wins (132, one behind Manchester) and most playoff wins (20) of any AHL team, and they and the Texas Stars are the only teams to post a 0.600-plus record in each season. His captaincy is now the second-longest in the franchise’s 19 seasons.

Including his time with the Griffins, Hoggan has skated in 620 AHL games between Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Providence, Worcester and Houston, and 107 more in the NHL with St. Louis, Boston and Phoenix.

Renowned for his work ethic, competitiveness, preparation, and the culture he has helped create in the Griffins’ locker room, Hoggan has mentored more than a dozen players who have since graduated to the Detroit Red Wings and helped that franchise extend its playoff streak to 24 seasons. He is the second Griffin in four years to win the award, following Chris Minard’s selection in 2011-12.

This award, which was first presented by the AHL in 1978, honors the late Fred T. Hunt, a long-time contributor to the league who won three Calder Cup championships as a player and three more as a general manager during a career spent primarily with the AHL’s Buffalo Bisons and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Previous winners of the award include Ross Yates (1983), Glenn Merkosky (1987, ’91), Bruce Boudreau (1988), Murray Eaves (’89, ’90), John Anderson (1992), Tim Tookey (1993), Ken Gernander (1996, 2004), Randy Cunneyworth (2000), Mike Keane (2007), Ajay Baines (2009), Casey Borer (2010), Bryan Helmer (2011), Chris Minard (2012), Brandon Davidson (2013) and Jake Dowell (2014).

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 2014-15 regular season ends Sunday, and then 16 clubs will continue to vie for the league’s coveted championship trophy when the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway.