Canisius' Persick Named Finalist For Hockey Humanitarian Award

January 12, 2005

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Canisius College senior defenseman Mark Persick (Yorkton, Sask.) has been named as a finalist for the 10th annual Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen. Persick, who was a finalist last season as well, became the first Golden Griffin to be named a finalist last year.

This year’s recipient will be announced April 8 during the Frozen Four in Columbus, Ohio. Last year’s winner was Northeastern University’s Chanda Gunn.

The 2005 Frozen Four will be the site of three of college hockey’s great events, starting with USCHO.com’s fifth annual Town Hall Meeting, followed by the Hockey Humanitarian Award presentation and finally the announcement of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner.

2005 Finalists

Player, Year, School

Sarah Carlson, Sr., Boston College

Gillian Gallagher, Sr. Quinnipiac University

John Ostapyk, Sr., Dartmouth College

Mark Persick, Sr., Canisius College

Peter Trovato, Sr., University of Massachusetts

Persick was nominated on the basis of his service and community work at Canisius as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He joins former Griff Ryan Stewart (a 1998 candidate) as the only Canisius hockey players to be candidates for the award.

EXTRA CURRICULAR/COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FOR MARK PERSICK

· ORGANIZED MONTHLY VISITS TO BUFFALO’S WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BY STUDENT-ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE IN PIZZA PARTIES, TREE DECORATING, AND OTHER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES WITH PATIENTS.

· COLLECTED DONATIONS FROM THE HOCKEY TEAM FOR OUR SUPPORT OF HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS. WE COLLECTED OVER $200 AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS PURCHASED BAGS AND BOXES OF FOOD AT ALDI.

· ORGANIZED A PROGRAM TO GET IMMIGRANTS FROM VIVE LA CASA (A LAYOVER FOR IMMIGRANTS AWAITING INS APPROVAL) FREE TICKETS TO CANISIUS HOCKEY GAMES. ARRANGED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO CANISIUS HOCKEY GAMES AND BY TEAM ALSO ARRANGED FOR IMMIGRANTS TO USE COLLEGE’S ATHLETIC FACILITIES FOR SOCCER GAMES ON WEEKENDS.

· PARTICIPATED IN LAST SUMMER’S COMMUNITY DAY CLEANUP OF THE HAMLIN PARK AREA. WAS ON A LANDSCAPE CREW THAT BUILT A FLOWER GARDEN IN AN EMPTY LOT.

· CREATED A “TOY TOSS” AT A HOCKEY GAME IN DECEMBER FOR THE HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS CHILDREN’S CENTER.

· THROUGH THE CANISIUS COLLEGE STUDENT SENATE, ORGANIZED A SPONSORSHIP OF A CHILD THROUGH WORLDVISION. WE ARE SPONSORING A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SOMALIA.

· VOLUNTEER WITH HOCKEY GROUPS IN BUFFALO AND IN CANADA

· VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE HONOR SOCIETY

· SAAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

· SENIOR SENATOR IN STUDENT SENATE