Liam O’Brien Named Hershey Bears Man of the Year

The Hershey Bears announced Thursday afternoon that forward Liam O’Brien has been named for the team’s Man of the Year award. O’Brien, 22, has participated in many events around the community as a representative of the team, like visits to Penn State Hershey’s Children’s hospital, reading to students with the Bears’ reading program at local elementary schools, skating with the American Special Hockey Association, along many other events.

“O’Brien has had such an exceptional season both on and off the ice,” VP of Hockey Operations Bryan Helmer said via a press release. “He is always eager and willing to participate in community-focused activities and events. We commend how much he enthusiastically gives back to the Hershey community.”

The Halifax, NS is now nominated for the AHL’s 2016-17 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award for league man of the year.

Press release:

The Hershey Bears are proud to announce that Liam O’Brien has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hershey community during the 2016-17 season.

This year has seen O’Brien not only participate in various community activities, but he’s also experiencing a career-best season on the ice with the Hershey Bears team. His community-focused initiatives include:

· Visiting with patients and families at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

· Participant of the “Roaring to Read” reading program at local elementary schools.

· Delivering teddy bears at the Ronald McDonald House from the annual Hershey Bears Teddy Bear Toss event.

· Honoring our active military and veterans at Fort Indiantown Gap, USO.

· Spending time with patients at American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge as they endure cancer treatments.

· Instructor for the American Special Hockey Association event with Hershey Bears.

“O’Brien has had such an exceptional season both on and off the ice,” said Bryan Helmer, VP of Hockey Operations for the Hershey Bears. “He is always eager and willing to participate in community-focused activities and events. We commend how much he enthusiastically gives back to the Hershey community.”

Liam O’Brien 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.