GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins are proud to announce that forward John Vigilante has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the West Michigan community during the 2009-10 season.

A native of the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Vigilante quickly developed a bond with the west side of the state during his first season as a Griffin. Always eager to lend a hand to the team’s community efforts, he enthusiastically volunteered numerous times this season to visit pediatric patients at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, attend local youth hockey practices, make Stick with School appearances to encourage students to work hard, pump gas during the team’s inaugural Pumping Gas fundraiser, and sign autographs after Griffins games.

In addition, Vigilante participated in several full-team functions that benefited a variety of charities, including the Pups and Pucks Fall Walk-a-Thon (Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary), Tip-A-Griffin (Habitat for Humanity), the Griffins versus Sled Wings sled hockey game (Sled Wings and Griffins Youth Foundation), and the Great Skate Winterfest (Griffins Youth Foundation).

In recognition of his efforts, Vigilante will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to the Griffins’ March 31 home game versus Rochester. In addition, Vigilante and defenseman Paul Crosty will each receive $250 as co-winners of the Griffins’ own community player of the year award, sponsored locally by Centennial Securities and Dean Foods.

Vigilante is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL’s 2009-10 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 by the AHL in the coming weeks.