STOKES NAMED AEROS’ AMERICAN SPECIALTY/AHL MAN OF THE YEAR

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros are proud to announce that defenseman Ryan Stokes has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Houston community during the 2006-07 season.

Stokes is in his second full season with the Aeros, having begun his AHL career late in the 2004-05 campaign.

Stokes was chosen prior to the season to be the spokesperson for Houston Aeros Charities’ partnership with Crisis Intervention Houston and BMC Software. Stokes encouraged teens to sign up to volunteer for the Crisis Intervention’s Teenline phone bank, and also delivered anti-bully messages. The PSA’s are currently playing on KHOU Channel 11, and also in the Houston Independent School District. As a result of Stokes’ efforts, more than 1,000 phone calls were made to Teenline from November-January. In addition, another 1,000 teenagers have seen Stokes’ posters, distributed throughout HISD.

In December, Stokes delivered the proceeds of the Aeros Charities Food Drive to the Houston Food Bank, along with other teammates, as well as Dan Snyder’s family.

Stokes attended the Grand Opening of the 9th Floor Aeros Power Playroom at Children’s Memorial Hospital, and has been a frequent visitor. He is known as the “Undefeated Champion of Connect Four”, has participated in arts & crafts projects, and visits immobile patients in their rooms cheering them up with autographs, Aeros memorabilia, and photo ops. Stokes also received the most “tips” among 30 waiters at the March 27 Aeros Charities Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Auction, which benefits the Power Playroom.

Stokes also participated in “Skate with the Pros”, a public skating event at Sugar Land Ice & Sports Center, the Aeros’ official training facility.

In recognition of his efforts, Stokes will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Aeros home game.

Stokes is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL’s 2006-07 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring 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. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced later this month.