NEW YORK (May 20, 2022) – Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse and New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban are the three finalists for the 2021‑22 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community,” the National Hockey League announced today.
Each NHL team nominated a player for the King Clancy Trophy, with the three finalists and winner chosen by a committee of senior NHL executives led by Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
The selection committee applies the following criteria in determining the finalists and winner:
* Clear and measurable positive impact on the community
* Investment of time and resources
* Commitment to a particular cause or community
* Commitment to the League’s community initiatives
* Creativity of programming
* Use of influence; engagement of others
The winners of the 2022 NHL Awards will be revealed during the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final. The King Clancy Trophy winner will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The two runners-up each will receive a $5,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.
Following are the finalists for the King Clancy Trophy, in alphabetical order:
Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim Ducks
Getzlaf, who announced his retirement prior to the conclusion of the regular season, spent his entire 17-year career in Anaheim, serving as the Ducks’ captain for each of the past 12 campaigns. While widely known for his play on the ice, Getzlaf’s leadership also has extended into the community. He helped create the Anaheim Ducks Learn to Play powered by Ryan Getzlaf program, which offers first-time hockey players the chance to get on the ice – and receive equipment – for free. Getzlaf also sponsors an additional initiative in which any child who completes a Learn to Play program and then signs up to participate in a RINKS in-house league receives a complimentary first set of gear (for either ice or inline hockey). To date, 18,000 kids have taken part in the Learn to Play program, while Getzlaf has helped provide 9,500 of them with full sets of hockey equipment. Away from the rink, Getzlaf and his wife, Paige, host the annual Getzlaf Golf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne, a nonprofit that aims to save the lives of children and young adults affected by the muscle-wasting disease. The event has raised more than $4.25 million over the last 10 years.
Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers
Nurse has served as a pillar in the community throughout his tenure in Edmonton, focusing on initiatives dedicated to immigrants and Indigenous youth, education access, mentorship, and racial and social justice. As an ambassador for Free Play for Kids, Nurse helps provide marginalized children – many of whom are refugees, new Canadians or Indigenous youth – with the opportunity to play sports in a safe, accessible and inclusive environment, and offers kids from Edmonton’s most socially vulnerable schools the chance to attend an Oilers game and meet him afterward. He also serves as an ambassador for Right To Play, which aims to protect, educate and empower children to rise above adversity through the power of sport. Nurse expanded his efforts in helping kids by announcing the creation of the Darnell Nurse Excellence Scholarship in 2021, teaming up with St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School – his alma mater in Hamilton, Ont. – to award two scholarships each year to deserving students pursuing post-secondary aspirations. Nurse also has been a prominent youth mentor and an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion, recently serving as a spokesperson for the League’s Respect Hockey initiative.
P.K. Subban, D, New Jersey Devils
Subban, a King Clancy Trophy finalist for a third straight season and fourth time overall, has a robust philanthropic history that has accompanied him throughout his NHL career in Montreal, Nashville and New Jersey. Launched in 2014, the P.K. Subban Foundation aims to create positive change through building a community of people who are passionate about helping children around the globe. Those efforts have included a $10-million pledge to the Montreal Children’s Hospital in 2015 (the largest ever by a Canadian athlete); a $1-million gift in March for “Le SPOT,” the hospital’s new mental health clinic; and donations for Ukrainian cancer patients who have been uprooted amid their country’s current war. Subban also has adapted and expanded his Blueline Buddies program, which connects local children with law enforcement and frontline workers. Additionally, he has spread his personal credo to “Change the Game” by speaking out on racial and social justice issues and serving as co-chair of the NHL’s Player Inclusion Committee, which guides initiatives and programs that foster a more inclusive environment for underrepresented hockey players.
History
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy was presented in 1988 by the NHL’s Board of Governors in honor of Frank “King” Clancy, a beloved figure in the League for decades as a player, referee, coach, manager and goodwill ambassador. A three-time Stanley Cup champion and 1958 inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Clancy was voted as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League’s Centennial Celebration in 2017.
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