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PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL on Friday announced that Cincinnati’s Dustin Sproat and Elmira’s Chris Frank have been named co-recipients of the inaugural ECHL Community Service Award.


Each ECHL team was given the opportunity to nominate one player for their efforts in community and charitable causes during the 2010-11 season. The nominations were voted on by League Office personnel.


Sproat was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Hockey Players for Kids (HP4K) in March 2009. HP4K’s mission is to harness the leadership, enthusiasm and public goodwill of the most exceptional people playing professional hockey in communities throughout North America, and use it to positively impact the lives of local children.


During the 2010-11 season, Sproat and his Cyclones’ teammates volunteered their time at local YMCA and Boys and Girls Club afterschool programs, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. Sproat also helped HP4K partner with the Children’s Hunger Alliance and the Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Association to host a pond hockey fundraiser.


Frank has developed relationships with children and adults in need during this season through his volunteering at the Elmira Psychiatric Center. He has spent a significant amount of his time away from the rink helping and connecting with patients through involvement in the patient’s therapeutic and recreational groups and eating dinner with the children.


In addition to his efforts at the Elmira Psychiatric Center, Frank has also met with patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira and has brought children to watch Jackals’ games. Frank has also read to children at schools throughout the community and has participated in a program called Stick to Reading, a player-designed curriculum that encourages students to read on a more frequent basis.


The other nominees for the 2010-11 ECHL Community Service Award were: Jean-Marc Beaudoin (Bakersfield), Matt Schepke (Greenville), Andy Brandt (Gwinnett), Cody Lampl (Idaho), Barry Goers (Las Vegas), Shawn Germain (Ontario), John Scrymgeour (Reading), Jordan Pietrus (South Carolina), Daryl Marcoux (Stockton), Kyle Page (Toledo), Jeff Lerg (Trenton) and David Shantz (Victoria).

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