NEW YORK (June 3, 2022) – Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is the 2021-22 recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” The award was presented by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited those qualities. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, as a result of an on-ice injury.

Price made his 2021-22 debut for the Canadiens, his 15th season in Montreal, on April 15, lifting the entire organization. “There’s just a presence when you have a guy like that in the dressing room. I know his calmness, his preparation, his work ethic. Sometimes Carey doesn’t need to speak to lead. And I feel that," head coach Martin St. Louis told The Athletic. The franchise's all-time leader for games and wins by a goaltender, the 34-year-old had undergone knee surgery in July 2021 following the team's run to the Stanley Cup Final. He also spent time away from the team while voluntarily taking part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. "This is definitely tough," Price said, "but I've always been a fighter and I've always been a clawer so I'm not giving up. So I'm going to continue to do my best to prepare for next season."

A $2,500 grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the Masterton Trophy winner.

Other finalists for this year’s honor were Zdeno Chara of the New York Islanders and Kevin Hayes of the Philadelphia Flyers.

For more on the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, including a list of past winners, click here.

Breakdown of the voting is below.