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Tough Love
Created: 4/13/2006 4:14:57 PM
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By Alex Kleiner, Yale Sports Publicity
Two Yale hockey alums recently received recognition for outstanding contributions to their communities. Ryan Steeves '04 and Joe Callahan '05, both currently playing in the American Hockey League, each received their team's American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year Award.
Steeves is a center for the Lowell Lock Monsters, the joint AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche, and Callahan is a defenseman on the Phoenix Coyotes' affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
Every year, all 27 teams in the AHL present one of their players with their club's Man of the Year Award. The honorees then become finalists for the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, which honors 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.
Steeves, who was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 7th round (227th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, was given his team's award for consistently being "one of the most visible Lock Monsters in the Merrimack Valley community."
The Rockland, Ontario native went beyond his scheduled appearances at local schools and community functions, volunteering for additional appearances at organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club. In March, Steeves was the top individual fundraiser at the Monsters annual Skaters-2-Waiters dinner, in which the players serve as waiters to help collect "tips" and donations for charity.
"We're happy to select Ryan for this award and have him represent our organization," Lock Monsters Team President Kevin Cummings said. "From offering his time to visit hospitals and schools, to being the first one to help a child make it around the rink at a skate with the team event, he just always seems to be there. He understands the position professional hockey players are in to be role models and gives his time and energy back to the fans that support the team."
At Yale, Steeves scored 91 points (37g, 54a) in 117 games during his four-year career. He had his best season as a junior in 2002-03 when he finished second on the team in scoring with 38 points, including a team-best 23 assists.
Callahan, who was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 3rd round (70th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, played on the AHL's Springfield Falcons and Utah Grizzlies before becoming a member of the Rampage. This year, Callahan has been one of the most active players in the Rampage's community relations efforts, engaging in activities such as reading to kids at local schools, skating with fans after games and passing out free gifts to the community to promote the team.
This season, the Rampage sales department started a new program to thank season ticket holders for their contributions. Callahan has been the most active participant in this program, consistently going to the movies with season ticket holders, giving locker room tours and mingling one-on-one with the fans at postgame parties.
Callahan spent three seasons in a Yale uniform before leaving early as a junior to pursue his professional career. He skated in 94 games and scored 44 points (11g, 33a). As a junior, he finished first among Yale defensemen with 20 points.
Both Steeves and Callahan have also enjoyed success on the ice in their early professional careers. This season, Steeves has played in 64 games for Lowell, totaling eight goals and seven assists. Callahan has played in 76 games for the Rampage and tallied 5 assists.
The winner of the 2005-06 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced later this month. The other players around the AHL who have been selected can be viewed at www.theahl.com.
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Related Schools: Yale
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Related Sports: Ice Hockey
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*This Article has been archived.*
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