(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans are proud to announce that defenseman Mac Bennett has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Rochester community during the 2016-17 season.
Prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign, his first in Rochester, Bennett accompanied several Amerks players, coaches and office staff by delivering season tickets to various businesses in the community. Shortly after the season began, as part of the Amerks Military Assist Week, the 25-year-old was one of several Amerks players and coaches who paid a visit to patients, staff and residents and took a tour of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Canandaigua. He also participated in a friendly skate following the team’s practice at The Blue Cross Arena with local veterans and members of the Amerks Alumni Association that concluded the week’s events.
As the holidays approached, Bennett stopped by Golisano Children’s Hospital to share some smiles and spread the Christmas spirit to patients. While there, he played bingo and also gave children along with their families Christmas gifts to help make their holidays a little more cheerful.
In addition to participating in several other team programs such as team skates with season ticket holders and various parties, Bennett was part of the 12th season of the Amerks Power Play Reading Program and Dr. Seuss’ Read Across America Day. The Amerks Power Play Reading program involves players stopping by local libraries, reading to kids and giving a hockey demonstration and allows the kids to learn about the game of hockey and the shows the importance of reading. Bennett also made several visits to local elementary schools, most recently to Cobbles Elementary in Penfield, where he read to students, spoke about the importance of education and even taught a buoyancy lesson with a hockey puck.
This season, the Amerks held their first-ever charity Dart Tournament that benefited the local chapter of Gilda’s Club, a non-profit organization committed to providing free networking and support groups, workshops, education and social activities for people of all ages affected by cancer. Throughout the night, fans could purchase 50/50 tickets and raffle tickets for the chance to win various Amerks giveaways, such as autographed prizes, vouchers and game tickets. Bennett was one of the first players to volunteer so that fans could enter and play alongside the third-year blueliner.
The Amerks once again partnered with New York’s 529 College Savings Plan for the return of the Amerks Jr. Reporter Program and Bennett helped provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to two local kids that won the chance to interview him and get a tour of the Amerks locker room afterwards.
Although most of his time was spent outside the confines of The Blue Cross Arena, Bennett was particularly generous during Amerks home games as he would regularly make appearances to meet with fans and other youth organizations following games as part of the Captain’s Club program. Following games which came with a “jersey off the back” presentation to the winning fans, Bennett always took it upon himself to greet each fan with a smile and thank them for being such a loyal supporter of the team.
In addition to being a true Amerks ambassador both on and off the ice, these are just a few of the great things Bennett is consistently doing to make a difference in the Greater Rochester Community all while serving as the Amerks player representative for the Professional Hockey Players’ Association.
Bennett is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2016-17 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.
