Springfield, MA - The Springfield Thunderbirds are proud to announce that Ian McCoshen has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Springfield community during the 2016-17 season. 

In spite of being in his rookie season in the AHL at age 21, McCoshen has not only excelled on the ice to lead his team in plus-minus, but he has been a major "plus" to the Springfield community in his first year with the new franchise.  

From day one, McCoshen’s commitment to community was made known, and in the first six months of his AHL tenure, he has become a staple in a plethora of community ventures ranging from visits to patients in the Baystate Children’s Hospital, on-ice participation with the Western Mass Knights sled hockey team, reading and speaking to elementary schools throughout the Pioneer Valley, among others. 

At the turn of the calendar year into 2017, McCoshen’s vision and hope of being a pillar in the Springfield area was further stamped when he became a frequent visitor to the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, which hosts a variety of after-school activities for children in the area. 

“We sincerely appreciate the involvement Ian McCoshen had at the Springfield Boys & Girls Club. Ian helped out in a variety of capacities including a floor hockey clinic, reading, and doing arts and crafts with our 5- and 6-year-old's," said Randy Manseau, Director of Operations for the Springfield Boys & Girls Club.  "It is great when local organizations can form a partnership. The Springfield Thunderbirds and Springfield Boys & Girls Club have done just that, and Ian has been an important part of this process. We would like to thank Ian for everything he has done for our youth in being a positive role model, and we wish Ian all the best.”

McCoshen 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.

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds 2017-18 Ticket Memberships start as low as $12 per game and feature the most exclusive benefits, including a commemorative jersey and brand new Collectors Mug. For more information, fans may call the Thunderbirds ticket office at (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.