New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is one of three finalists for the King Clancy Trophy, which recognizes the National Hockey League (NHL) player who has best shown the example by his qualities of leader on and off the ice, while making a meaningful community contribution.
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The former Montreal Canadiens player will compete with Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers and Ryan Getzlaf, who retired after playing with the Anaheim Ducks for 17 years.
Subban is among the final three candidates for the third campaign in a row. Recognized for his philanthropic commitment, particularly with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, number 76 created a foundation in his name in 2014 to help children around the world. More recently, his efforts have raised donations for patients battling cancer in Ukraine, a country ravaged by the Russian invasion.
For his part, Getzlaf helped create a program aimed at giving young people a first chance to practice ice hockey; more than 18,000 of them have joined since its inception. About half of the participants receive their equipment for free.
Nurse has been involved with immigrant and First Nations youth by supporting initiatives that promote access to education, mentorship and social justice. In 2021, he also announced the creation of an excellence program in his name, in collaboration with the high school he attended in Hamilton to reward students who aspire to pursue post-secondary education.
Each NHL team had submitted a player’s name for this award; on the Canadian side, goaltender Jake Allen was the selected athlete. The three finalists were chosen by a committee headed by commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy Bill Daly. The name of the winner will be announced on June 7 and he will receive $25,000 that he can donate to the organization of his choice.
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