The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is named in honour of Francis M. "King" Clancy, a former player for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs who later went on to become a coach, referee, and team executive. The trophy was first awarded in 1988, and was presented to the National Hockey League by its board of governors.[2] No player has won it more than once, but two teams have had more than one player win the award. Three Calgary Flames have won the award, the most of any franchise; the only other franchise that has had more than one winner is the Boston Bruins, with two.
Players from six different Canadian teams have won this award. While players from the Calgary Flames have won three times, players from five other teams (Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets) have won it once. No team from the now-called Pacific Division have won it while being part of it (the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, Arizona to play as the Coyotes starting from the 1996-97 NHL season). The Northwest Division produced the most winners, with six different players, and a member from every team has won except the Minnesota Wild, which only started to play in the league as an expansion team starting from the 2000-01 season.
| Season |
Winner |
Team |
Player's humanitarian contribution |
| 1987–88 |
McDonald, LannyLanny McDonald |
Calgary Flames |
Supporter of numerous charities in Toronto and Calgary.[3] |
| 1988–89 |
Trottier, BryanBryan Trottier |
New York Islanders |
Worked with numerous charities, including the Special Olympics, the Long Island "Just Say No to Drugs" program, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[4] |
| 1989–90 |
Lowe, KevinKevin Lowe |
Edmonton Oilers |
Although very busy as a player and with the NHLPA, he was made the honorary Chairman of the Edmonton City Christmas Bureau, a charity which fed needy persons.[5] |
| 1990–91 |
Taylor, DaveDave Taylor |
Los Angeles Kings |
Did a lot of charity work with his team, and also assisted persons with speech impediments, as he had previously overcame one.[6] |
| 1991–92 |
Bourque, RayRay Bourque |
Boston Bruins |
Involved in numerous charities; he was most notably the honourable Chairman for Boston's Floating Hospital for Infants and Children.[7] |
| 1992–93 |
Poulin, DaveDave Poulin |
Boston Bruins |
Spent a lot of time helping charities; he was Co-Chairman of the March of Dimes "Walk for Life" fundraiser.[8] |
| 1993–94 |
Graves, AdamAdam Graves |
New York Rangers |
Was previously recognized by his team and city for his extensive community work. He most notably served as Celebrity Chairman of New York's Family Dynamic program, a charity which assists abused children.[9] |
| 1994–95 |
Nieuwendyk, JoeJoe Nieuwendyk |
Calgary Flames |
Was the captain of the Flames, and was leader in most of the Flames' charitable and humanitarian efforts.[10] |
| 1995–96 |
King, KrisKris King |
Winnipeg Jets |
Was the Jets' captain as well as a major participant in various charitable organizations.[11] |
| 1996–97 |
Linden, TrevorTrevor Linden |
Vancouver Canucks |
Started a program called the "Captain's Crew", which allowed underprivileged children to attend games in a private suite as his guest.[12] |
| 1997–98 |
Chase, KellyKelly Chase |
St. Louis Blues |
Heavily involved with the Gateway Project, which helped mentally challenged children get involved in various sports.[13] |
| 1998–99 |
Ray, RobRob Ray |
Buffalo Sabres |
Involved with many charities, including the March of Dimes, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Walk America and the Roswell Cancer Institute and Children's hospital.[14] |
| 1999–2000 |
Joseph, CurtisCurtis Joseph |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
Worked mainly with sick children; he started "Cujo's Kids", which placed children with illnesses in a luxury suite at a Leafs game; also created "Cujo's Crease", a special room in the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto which resembled the Leafs' dressing room.[15] |
| 2000–01 |
Podein, ShjonShjon Podein |
Colorado Avalanche |
Founded the Shjon Podein Children's Foundation, which assists sick and underprivileged children.[16] |
| 2001–02 |
Francis, RonRon Francis |
Carolina Hurricanes |
Involved in a program with Duke Children's Hospital in Durham, North Carolina that helps children.[17] |
| 2002–03 |
Shanahan, BrendanBrendan Shanahan |
Detroit Red Wings |
Started a program that assists with the purchase and installation of smoke detectors for low-income households.[18] |
| 2003–04 |
Iginla, JaromeJarome Iginla |
Calgary Flames |
Involved in all of the Flames' community programs, and donated 1,000 dollars for every goal he scored.[19] |
| 2004–05 |
zzz2004–05 NHL lockout
No winner |
- |
- |
| 2005–06 |
Kolzig, OlafOlaf Kolzig |
Washington Capitals |
Co-founded "Athletes against Autism" after discovering that his son, Carson, had autism; also involved with numerous other charities.[20] |
| 2006–07 |
Koivu, SakuSaku Koivu |
Montreal Canadiens |
After recovering from cancer, he founded the Saku Koivu Foundation in 2002, which raised around 2.5 million dollars when Koivu was awarded.[21] |
| 2007–08 |
Lecavalier, VincentVincent Lecavalier |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
Work with the Vincent Lecavalier Foundation. |
