Alexander Ovechkin Wins Lester B. Pearson Award

[VodkaFish]

TORONTO – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) tonight announced Alexander Ovechkin as the recipient of the 2007-08 Lester B. Pearson Award, which is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA. Martin St. Louis, the 2003-04 Pearson winner, presented the award to Ovechkin as part of the NHL Awards Show at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Both of the Lester B. Pearson Award finalists, Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, were in attendance.

“I think it’s huge for a player to win this award. It tells a lot about the way you are viewed around the league,” said Ovechkin. “I think all players want to win this trophy.”

Ovechkin, a native of Moscow, Russia, appeared in all 82 games for the Washington Capitals, securing the NHL’s top spot for goals (65) and points (112). A finalist for the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award, Ovechkin has taken the NHL by storm with his extraordinary ability to score goals and his exuberant enthusiasm for the game of hockey. In just his third season, the 22-year-old led the Capitals to the playoffs, after an incredible run that saw the club clinch the Southeast Division crown. Ovechkin becomes just the second Russian born player to receive the honour, following Sergei Fedorov (1993-94). Ovechkin also represents the first-time a member of the Washington Capitals has won the prestigious award.

The Lester B. Pearson Award, named after the former Prime Minister of Canada, has been voted on by the players since the 1970-71 season when Phil Esposito was the inaugural recipient.

In recognition of being named the 2007-08 Lester B. Pearson Award winner, Alexander Ovechkin was presented with an elegant men’s watch from Breitling.
In honour of the Lester B. Pearson nominees’ outstanding seasons, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund will be allocating a total of $40,000 dollars to the grassroots hockey programs of the Pearson Finalists’ choice. Ovechkin will designate a Russian Orphanage as the beneficiary of the $20,000 that accompanies the Pearson Award. Iginla allocated $10,000 between the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association and the Calgary Minor Hockey Association, while Malkin will designate $10,000 to a local Pittsburgh children’s charity.

The NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund has donated more than $16 million to grassroots hockey programs around the world, making it the largest program of its kind. Launched in 1999 as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love, Goals & Dreams has donated full sets of equipment to over 9,000 underprivileged children in 17 countries. In addition, 90 ice re-surfacers and 110 sets of boards and glass were provided to community arenas in small towns in Europe and North America. Funds are allocated on a pro-rated basis according to the nationalities of the NHLPA’s membership.

[Killah_punk]

Well deserved