The Cleveland Monsters are proud to announce that Doyle Somerby has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Cleveland community during the 2018-19 season.

In his second season with the Monsters, Somerby began helping the community immediately in October through his participation in the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign. After learning of the initiative from friends, Somerby joined the Cleveland participants to help raise a grand total of $126,721 and finished second in Cleveland’s city-wide campaign raising $11,636 independently.

As part of the Real Men Wear Pink campaign, Somerby wore an article of pink clothing daily and even painted his nails pink to raise awareness. He raffled a team-sign, game-used pink hockey stick with all proceeds going toward the campaign. The raffle winner was Roberta Pennington, a Monsters fan who has personally been affected by breast cancer. Somerby met with Pennington after a game to sign the winning stick and talk with her family.

During Monsters Movember, Somerby participated and finished second in fundraising out of the group. Monsters Movember is a voluntary program to raise funds and awareness in the fight against men’s health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. He also took part in Tour with the Monsters presented by University Hospitals Sports Medicine which had players travel to three local ice rinks for practice during the season in an effort to grow the game in Northeast Ohio. Somerby participated in the post-practice open skate that included autographs and photos.

Somerby was also an active participant in the Monsters’ Hockey for Heroes program presented by Unique Home Solutions. In a promotion made possible by the local VA, three veterans or active-duty military members attended each Friday home game and met with a player postgame which included Somerby many times.

Whether visiting University Hospitals during Halloween or spending time with Metro Health Hospital throughout the season, Somerby frequently met local patients to lift spirits during difficult times.

Somerby has quickly made an impact throughout the Northeast Ohio community, showing no hesitation to help in whatever way possible. From fundraising to meetings with community members, Somerby has connected with Monsters fans and shown a continued dedication to Cleveland. His determination and initiative throughout the 2018-19 season make him an ideal candidate for the Cleveland Monsters IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year.

Somerby is now one of 31 finalists for the AHL’s 2018-19 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.