Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
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| Award details | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Given for | National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. |
| History | |
| First award | 1967–68 NHL season |
| Most recent | Jaromir Jagr |
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. It is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one player in competition. It is often awarded to a player who has come back from career– or even life-threatening illness or injury.
The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died on January 15, 1968, after sustaining an injury during a hockey game. During his playing career, Masterton exhibited "to a high degree the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey". It was first awarded following the 1967–68 regular season. As of the end of the 2013–14 NHL season, players for the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens have won the trophy five times; players for the Boston Bruins have won the trophy four times; and players for the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings have won the trophy three times.
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