Mark Giordano is Calgary’s Masterton Trophy nominee

Sixteen years ago, Mark Giordano was an undrafted junior player considering going to university. A year ago, he was one of the oldest (and dominant) Norris Trophy winners in NHL history. Now? He’s one of 31 nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, as selected by the Calgary chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Selected annually by the full membership of the PHWA (from a pool of nominees chosen by each local chapter), the Masterton Trophy is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The award is named after the late Bill Masterton, who passed away in 1968 following injuries sustained in a game.

Giordano’s story has been well-told, but it’s a fun one.

Signed in July 2004 after he had already signed up for classes at York University, Giordano tried his luck with the American Hockey League’s Lowell Lock Monsters – the Flames split the team with the Carolina Hurricanes that season.

After call-ups in 2005-06 and 2006-07, spending the bulk of the season in the NHL in the latter season, Giordano balked at signing a two-way contract and instead headed to play a season in the Russia Superleague. Then-general manager blinked first and re-initiated negotiations by mid-season and Giordano returned to full-time NHL duty in 2008-09.

Giordano became Flames captain in 2013 following Jarome Iginla’s departure and somehow found another gear to his game at the age of 30. He became one of the best blueliners in the NHL while juggling the captaincy, a family, and a litany of off-ice charitable commitments alongside his wife, Lauren. He captured the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2018-19, receiving 165 of 171 first place votes.

For thumbing his nose at the aging curve and somehow getting better with age through hard work, determination and sheer force of will, Giordano is this year’s nominee from the Calgary chapter. (Disclosure: as a PHWA member in town, I voted.) It’s the third time Giordano’s been nominated by the local chapter over the past five seasons.

Flames players have won the Masterton twice in its history: Lanny McDonald took it home in 1982-83 and Gary Roberts in 1995-96.