Monarchs Name Former Viper Bishop Fan Favorite:

The American Hockey League's (AHL) Manchester Monarchs had their year end awards banquet named former Vernon Vipers forward Hunter Bishop fan favorite.

Bishop is in his second season with the Monarchs, played in 57 games collecting (6-goals-9-assists-15-points).  Bishop missed the entire 2011-12 season with the American Hockey League Hamilton Bulldogs with an undisclosed injury.  Bishop spent last season between four teams (South Carolina Stingrays, Lake Erie Monsters, Rochester Americans and the Manchester Monarchs). 

Bishop played parts of three seasons in Vernon (2005-2008). Bishop left Vernon after two seasons and played in just four games at the University of North Dakota during the 2006-07 season before returning to Vernon during the Christmas break playing the remainder of the 2006-07 season playing his final season with the Vipers (2007-2008) before playing the next two years at Ohio State University. In 140 regular season games with the Vipers Bishop collected (93-84-177). On March 18th 2010 the Montreal Canadiens signed Bishop as a free agent to a two year contract. Bishop attended the Habs training camp for three seasons before being sent down to the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs.

Hunter Bishop's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=80970

This is posted on the Monarchs website:

2013-2014 Monarchs Award Winners

04/12/2014

AS VOTED BY THE MONARCHS PLAYERS AND COACHES

Ace Bailey Most Valuable Player Award - Jordan Weal

AS VOTED BY THE MONARCHS PLAYERS

Mark Bavis Unsung Hero Award - Andrew Campbell

AS VOTED BY THE MONARCHS CARE FOUNDATION

Monarchs Community Service Award - Andrew Campbell

AS VOTED BY THE FANS

Union Leader Fan Favorite Award - Hunter Bishop

AS VOTED BY THE MONARCHS BOOSTER CLUB

Manchester Monarchs Booster Club Player of the Year Award - Brian O’Neill

This was in the Union Leader:

Hunter Bishop Fan Favorite 2014 Manchester AHL

Monday, April 14, 2014

By IAN CLARK

New Hampshire Union Leader

Hunter Bishop, Union Leader Monarchs Fan Favorite, 2013-14

Monarchs clinch division, eye conference crown

The smile on Hunter Bishop's face said it all.

Manchester Monarchs second-year forward Bishop was named the Union Leader Fan Favorite award winner prior to Saturday's game against Portland. Bishop said he was surprised by the honor and couldn't stop smiling when he was talking about it.

"I'm honored. This is a hockey city and they know the sport so if they picked me as the fan favorite I'm pretty happy to hear that," Bishop said. "I've prided myself on being a guy that does things the right way and never taking a shift off and trying to give my best effort every night. I'm honored that the fans noticed and it's something I hope to continue throughout my career."

Bishop played in 55 games prior to Saturday night's tilt, scoring six goals with nine assists and a plus-12 rating. Because his numbers don't scream out for attention, Bishop said he was happy that the Monarchs fans noticed the other ways he contributes.

"If you look at my stat line, I'm not a top points guy. I might not always be on the scoresheet but hopefully fans can notice the other things I do on the ice and I guess they did," Bishop said. "It definitely feels good. It's nice to have the coaches approval and the teammates approval and for them to acknowledge how you play, but to have the fans who come in and spend their hard-working dollars to watch you play, if they respect my game that means a lot."

Bishop said the award is especially meaningful considering the talented players that have suited up in Manchester this season, including those currently with the parent club Los Angeles Kings.

"The one thing that sticks out the most to me is that this is one of the greatest hockey teams I've ever played on," Bishop said. "We've had so many great players through this room and we still have so many great players here now, whether they're with L.A. or still here. For the fans to pick me for this award, it takes me by surprise and I'm honored."

Bishop seems to have found a home in Manchester after bouncing around the AHL with Hamilton, Lake Erie and Rochester before joining the Monarchs last season.
 
Other honors: In addition to the Union Leader Fan Favorite trophy, the Monarchs also handed out several other awards during Saturday's Fan Appreciation Night.

The Ace Bailey Most Valuable Player award (voted on by the Monarchs coaches and players) went to Jordan Weal. The Mark Bavis Unsung Hero award (voted by the players) went to captain Andrew Campbell, who also won the Monarchs Community Service award (voted by the Monarchs Care Foundation).Brian O'Neill won the Manchester Monarchs Booster Club Player of the Year award.

JJ gets his break: Finally, after five years in the ECHL and another four in the AHL, and less than a month shy of his 33rd birthday, Justin Johnson made his NHL debut on Friday night with the New York Islanders in a 3-2 shootout win over New Jersey.

Known as an enforcer with a heart of gold, Johnson played three seasons with the Monarchs before joining Bridgeport this season. Johnson was a fan favorite and popular player in the locker room and the Monarchs players were excited for the man they called J.J.

And Johnson himself was understandably excited as well. Johnson logged 7:15 of ice time and collected three body checks on his stat sheet while playing in a game that featured legendary names like Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias and Martin Broduer.

"It was a thrill. Thrill, thrill, thrill, man," Johnson told his hometown paper the Anchorage (Alaska) News. "I didn't feel like my feet touched the ground all day. I got on the ice for warm-ups, and there's Jagr, there's Elias. I started stretching, and turned to stretch my oblique, and there's Brodeur. I was like, 'I guess we're doing this for real.'?"

Ian Clark covers pro hockey for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His email address is iclark@unionleader.com.