It’s awards season, gang, and we’re continuing to see nominations announced for league-wide awards. On Tuesday, it was time to announce the 32 club nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The Calgary Flames’ nominee for this season is forward Jonathan Huberdeau.
The King Clancy is awarded each season to the player who who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. The award is adjudicated by a panel from both the Professional Hockey Writers Assocation and the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
Originally selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft. After a decade in South Florida, Huberdeau was moved to the Flames during the 2022 off-season as part of the Matthew Tkachuk blockbuster trade. Since arriving in Calgary, Huberdeau has done what he’s done throughout his career: worked hard on the ice to help his team, and worked hard off the ice to help his community.
Here’s a snippet of the Flames’ press release touting Huberdeau’s candidacy:
Since joining the Flames, Huberdeau has made Calgary his home and has shown a dedication to his community, evident than through his signature initiative, Huby’s Hangout. Each season, Jonathan personally purchases a private suite at the Scotiabank Saddledome, providing game-night experiences, food, and beverages to underserved youth from across Calgary. For many of these children, it’s their first time attending a professional hockey game, an experience often made memorable by post-game visits from Huberdeau himself, where he connects with the kids through conversations, autographs, and photos.
Flames players have been recipients of the King Clancy four times in the award’s history: Lanny McDonald (1987-88), Joe Nieuwendyk (1994-95), Jarome Iginla (2003-04) and Mikael Backlund (2022-23). The Flames are understandably proud of being the only NHL club with four winners.
The three finalists for the King Clancy will be announced at a later date, with the winner announced in June as part of the NHL’s annual awards.
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