Wolves honor Oystrick for his charitable role
Chicago Wolves defenseman Nathan Oystrick has been named the team's AHL Man of the Year.
One player from each American Hockey League team is recognized for his outstanding commitments to his local community and charitable organizations during the 2007-08 season.
The 25-year-old Oystrick is now a finalist for the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year.
Oystrick made his commitment to the Chicagoland community felt - or rather, smelled - in December when he was one of two players to participate in the Chicago Wolves Equipment Challenge: a two-day event that saw him wear his full, game-worn hockey equipment for 27 consecutive hours. The fundraiser set an unofficial record and garnered more than $5,000 in fan pledges for the Family Resource Center, Anti-Cruelty Society, Dan Snyder Memorial Fund and various Chicago-area charities.
The Regina, Saskatchewan, native, is the figurehead for "Oystrick's Entourage," a program that provides Wolves tickets to not-for-profit organizations and underpriviledged children to attend a game as his guest. Each child receives an autographed picture of Nathan and is seated in a special section. Through this initiative, more than 650 children from the Boys to Men Chicago Network, the McHenry Youth Service Bureau, the Schaumburg Teen Center and other local charities have been able to attend Wolves games this season.
In addition to lending a hand at the annual "Hockey for Her" and "Get Fed By The Wolves" fundraisers, Oystrick participated in the Wolves most successful education program, "Read to Succeed," sponsored by Borders, which has reached 400,000 children and more than 100 libraries throughout the Chicago area in 13 years. The Northern Michigan University alumnus has visited nearly 20 libraries in his two seasons with the team to speak about the role that education plays in his life as a professional athlete and to encourage children to spend more time in libraries, to read recreationally and to understand the importance of education.
Oystrick will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to the Wolves game on April 12 in recognition of his efforts.