Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

MURPHY NAMED AEROS’ 2005-06 MAN OF THE YEAR

HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Aeros are proud to announce that defenseman Curtis Murphy 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 2005-06 season. (See Murphy's nomination packet).

Murphy has been a key player in the Aeros’ community relations efforts in 2005-06. He and his teammates painted eggs to be auctioned off for Houston Aeros Charities, and he visited Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital. Houston Aeros Charities is funding a special Aeros hockey room on the ninth floor. Murphy also skated with children at local ice rinks.

In March, the Aeros launched “Murphy’s Mission”, a program to benefit “I Have a Dream” ®. An anonymous local donor is giving $300 per Murphy goal and $100 per assist to the charity. The "I Have a Dream"® Program helps children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education. A home hat trick at any point of the program will net the foundation a whopping $10,000. Murphy’s Mission raised $1,100 for "I Have a Dream" in March alone.

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

Murphy is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL’s 2005-06 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.


---HOUSTON AEROS, BE A FAN---