Lester Patrick Trophy
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| Award details | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Given for | Personnel who provide outstanding service to hockey in the United States. |
| History | |
| First award | 1966 |
| Most recent |
Mark Howe Patrick J. Kelly |
The Lester Patrick Trophy has been presented by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey since 1966 to honor a recipient's contribution to ice hockey in the United States. It is considered a non-NHL trophy because it may be awarded to players, coaches, officials, and other personnel outside the NHL. The trophy is named after Lester Patrick (1883–1960), player and longtime coach of the New York Rangers, who was a developer of ice hockey.
The Lester Patrick Trophy was presented by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the late Lester Patrick, who was a general manager and coach of the club. It is presented annually for "outstanding service to hockey in the United States". Players, coaches, referees, and executives are eligible to receive the trophy. The winners are chosen by a committee consisting of various officials, including the Commissioner (previously President) of the NHL, an NHL Governor, a representative of the New York Rangers, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Builder's section, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Player's section, a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, a member of the NHL Broadcasters' Association and a member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Each member of the committee changes annually except for the NHL commissioner, who is now Gary Bettman. The trophy's first winner was Jack Adams. More than one winner may be chosen per year.
There have been 108 individuals who have won it, and three teams. The trophy has been won by women on two occasions; in 1999, the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team was presented the trophy along with Harry Sinden, and in 2007, Cammi Granato individually won the trophy. Granato was also a member of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team that won the trophy in 1998. No person individually has won the award twice; however, persons have won with a team and by themselves separately, as is the case with Cammi Granato, because she was adjudged worthy to be personally awarded the trophy.
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