Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Brian Boyle Wins The Bill Masterton Trophy

06/20/2018 at 8:49pm EDT

via NHL PR,

New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle is the 2017-18 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 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.

Before Boyle set foot on the ice as a Devil, he faced his biggest test. At the start of training camp, the 33-year-old was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer. He worked his way back into the lineup by Nov. 1 and notched 10 goals over his first 25 games, including a memorable goal on New Jersey’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Prudential Center, a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 24. Boyle missed just three games after his season debut and represented the Devils at the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Tampa. While handling his own illness, his family and his career, Boyle has approached every day with the same optimistic attitude and perseverance that has inspired and lifted the Devils’ locker room.

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 Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers and Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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