Defenseman Tim Conboy, who has been with the Carolina Hurricanes since mid-February, was named today as the River Rats Man of the Year.

Conboy was selected for his work in the local community, work which goes mostly overlooked, except by those directly involved. What's often forgotten is that these players live and work and interact in our area for anywhere from six to nine months a year, far more time than they spend anywhere else.

Since he arrived last season, Conboy, a Minnesota native, embraced the area as his second home. This season, he was front and center in many charity activities, such as the Reading with Rowdy program and the Bowl-a-thon for the Ronald McDonald House Love Builds initiative. He also made PSA's about good sportsmanship, visited countless schools and aided in team building projects for youth with Equinox, Inc.

Because of his selection, Conboy joins 28 other individual finalists for the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the AHL's Man of the Year, to be chosen by representatives from the league and award sponsor American Specialty. No Rats player has won it, named in honor of the former Hershey Bear who died of leukemia in 1997 at the age of 24.

In other news:

* The Rats formally announced the signing of defenseman Brock Wilson and forward Ryan Weston to tryout deals today. Wilson was at today's abbreviated 30-minute practice and will be in the lineup tomorrow at Syracuse.

* To make room for the new arrivials, which in the past week have also included Mercyhurst forward Ben Cottreau and Carolina first-round draft pick Brandon Sutter, forward Chris Blight was released from his pro tryout. He had five assists and was plus-3 in 20 games with Albany. Ironically, as he goes out, his alma mater, Clarkson, comes in for the NCAA East Regional this weekend.

* Sutter is the 10th player to wear No. 23 for the Rats. Can you name the last? How many hardcore fans can name the first? Answers at the bottom.

* Friday's road game, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will be televised locally by Time Warner on channel 3. It won't be broadcast on flagship 104.5 FM (thanks to Yankees baseball. That's PRESEASON baseball. Yawn), but can be heard both here. and on the B2 Network.

* The 56 players to wear an Albany sweater in 2007-08 is a franchise single-season record, breaking the mark of 47 set last year when Carolina shared prospects with the Colorado Avalanche. The fewest players used by a Rats team was 28 in 2000-01, which marked the pro debut of the infamous Mike Jefferson (Danton).

* The Rats booster club held its annual dinner this week, handing out several awards: Offensive Player - Brandon Nolan; Defensive Player - Casey Borer; Unsung Hero - Pat Dwyer; Fan Favorite - Michael Leighton; Most Electrifying - Trevor Gillies; First Star Of The Year - Michael Leighton; Second Star Of The Year - Brandon Nolan; Third Star of the Year - Jerome Samson; John Cunniff Memorial Award - Trevor Gillies; Most Improved - Mark Flood; Favorite Beat Writer -- nah, not really. Just made that one up. Can think of a good candidate, though ....

* Former RPI captain Kirk MacDonald was the last player to wear No. 23, before being reassigned to ECHL Florida Dec. 5. The first was defenseman Dean Malkoc, in the inaugural 1993-94 season. Since then, the others have been, in order: Curt Regnier, Rick Bennett, Rob Skrlac, Mike Rupp, Steve Guolla, David Clarkson and Scott Kelman.