NHL announces winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award
The Mark Messier Leadership Award recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport and as a contributing member of society. The award is given to a player selected by Hockey Hall of Fame centre Mark Messier to honour an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.
The NHL announced the 2022 recipient during the first intermission in game one of the Eastern Conference Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers:
The winner for the 2021-22 NHL season is Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar. The Kings released this statement after Kopitar's win:
"As a spokesperson and contributor in several team fundraising events, Kopitar strives to represent the organization at every opportunity, including local institutions such as the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Make a Wish Foundation, Wags and Walks and Kings Care Foundation. Kopitar also hosts a hockey academy yearly in his native Slovenia, which serves aspiring youth players who may not have access to similar programs. Typically attracting nearly 200 players per year, the academy has drawn players from more than 15 countries."
Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won the Mark Messier Leadership award last season.
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