McCollum wins Griffins’ AHL community service award a record third time
By @MichaelCaples –
The Grand Rapids Griffins have announced that Tom McCollum is their winner of the IOA/American Speciality AHL Man of the Year Award, presented annually by all AHL clubs for outstanding contributions to the local community during the hockey season.
McCollum is the only three-time winner of the award in Griffins’ franchise history.
The 26-year-old native of Sanborn, N.Y., has continued the work he has started with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids in his seven seasons with Grand Rapids, and he helped start the Flagstar Floor Hockey Program that launched in January. McCollum donates four season tickets to the Boys & Girls Clubs every year, as well.
In December, he hosted a free hour-long clinic for goaltenders ranging in age from 4th grade to 12th grade, working with the Griffins Youth Foundation and with the help of fellow Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau. After the on-ice training, they held a 30-minute question-and-answer session with the participants and their parents, too.
McCollum is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2015-16 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year.
More on McCollum from the Griffins’ release:
A native of Sanborn, N.Y., McCollum has been tireless in community involvement throughout his seven seasons with the team, embodying the core values of both the Griffins and the city of Grand Rapids. He has been an eager participant at all of the franchise’s charitable events this season including the Tip-a-Griffin fundraiser for the Griffins Youth Foundation, skating and interacting with fans at the Great Skate Winterfest to raise funds for the Youth Foundation, taking part in the annual sled hockey game with the Grand Rapids Sled Wings and serving beverages at the Corks, Pucks and Brews for Easter Seals Michigan.
The 26-year-old goaltender has always been proactive in using his station in life for the betterment of the younger generation, impacting the lives of children at hockey practices, hospitals and elementary schools. McCollum has also been an ardent supporter of the West Michigan Special Needs Hockey Association.
McCollum is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2015-16 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.