Mikael Backlund nominated for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Another day, another award nomination for a Calgary Flames veteran. On Tuesday the league announced the 31 club nominees for the prestigious King Clancy Memorial Trophy – the Flames’ nominee is forward Mikael Backlund.

The award is annually given “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” The 31 nominees will be ranked by a committee of league executives. The first-place finisher will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The two runners-up each will receive a $5,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.

Backlund, 32, serves as an alternate captain for the Flames. He’s also involved in a slew of charitable work in the local community, including (but not limited to) the ALS Society of Alberta, Kids Cancer Care and Special Olympics Calgary. He was awarded the club’s Ralph and Sonia Scurfield Humanitarian Award in 2013-14 for his work off the ice in the local community.

Three Flames have been awarded the King Clancy in the past, and they’re all Hockey Hall of Famers: Lanny McDonald in 1987-88, Joe Nieuwendyk in 1994-95, and Jarome Iginla in 2003-04.

The NHL Awards will be handed out in July.