The NHL’s awards finalist rollout has finally come to an end.
The NHL unveiled the three finalists for the 2022 King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Friday, with Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf, Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse, and New Jersey’s PK Subban being named finalists for the hardware.
The King Clancy Trophy is a special honor, awarded to “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community,”
Getzlaf, who served as Anaheim Ducks’ captain for the past decade up until his retirement at the end of this season, is certainly no stranger to leadership in all areas of the game.
On the ice, he’s a fierce competitor and revered figure. Off the ice, Getzlaf helped create the Anaheim Ducks Learn to Play Program, offering clinics for first-time hockey players to learn the sport and also receive their first set of equipment for free. As of today, over 18,000 kids have taken part in the program and 9,500 have been given free equipment by Getzlaf himself. Getzlaf and his wife also host the Getzlaf Gold Shootout each year, which has helped raise over $4.25 million to help save the lives of children and young adults affected by muscle-wasting disease.
Nurse has been a fixture in the Edmonton community during his time as an Oiler, serving as an ambassador for Free Play for Kids which helps marginalized children play sports in a safe and inclusive environment. The initiative also allows children from socially vulnerable schools the chance to attend an Oilers game and meet Nurse after. Nurse also founded the Darnell Nurse Excellence Scholarship in partnership with his former high school, St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, to award two scholarships per year to deserving students.
Subban’s charitable efforts have been well-documented. After founding the PK Subban Foundation in 2014, Subban pledged a $10 million donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital in 2015, while expanding his Blueline Buddies program this year, helping connect local children in the New Jersey area to law enforcement and front line workers to foster positive relationships.
All three finalists have done fantastic work to make the world they live in better. Regardless of who wins, each is worthy of recognition.
