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NHLPA Announces Finalists for the Lester B. Pearson Award
Thursday, May. 4th, 2006
TORONTO – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) today announced that Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks are the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award finalists for the Most Outstanding Player during the regular season, as voted by members of the NHLPA.
Jagr, the Lester B. Pearson Award winner in 1998-99 and 1999-00, re-affirmed his status as one of the league’s elite offensive players with his 5th career 100+ point campaign, while Thornton, a Pearson finalist himself in 2002-03, narrowly edged Jagr in the battle for most points in the regular season. Ovechkin finished behind his fellow Pearson finalists to round out the top 3 point leaders, becoming just the second rookie ever (Teemu Selanne) to notch 50+ goals and 100+ points.
Named for the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Lester B. Pearson Award has been voted on by the players since the 1970-71 season, when Phil Esposito was the inaugural recipient. Wayne Gretzky captured the award an unmatched five times. The award will be presented during the NHL Awards Ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, June 22, 2006.
The finalists will allocate a total of $40,000 to the grassroots hockey programs of their choice through the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund, with the winner’s share being $20,000; $10,000 will be allocated by each of the remaining finalists. Launched in November 1999, the Goals & Dreams fund was created by NHLPA members to assist grassroots hockey, and has distributed more than $15 million worldwide to a variety of hockey initiatives.
Jaromir Jagr, of Kladno, Czech Republic, appeared in 82 games for the New York Rangers, securing top 3 spots in the NHL for goals (2nd – 54), assists (3rd – 69), points (2nd – 123), and plus/minus (tied for 3rd [+34]). Rangers fans enjoyed his first full season in New York as he helped carry the team to their first playoff berth since 1996-97, and with his stellar season, he now ranks 2nd to Hall of Famer Stan Mikita for career points by a European-born player. The skilled forward is also no stranger to the Pearson Award, capturing the honour twice previously. Jagr hopes to join only Wayne Gretzky (five), Mario Lemieux (four), and Guy Lafleur (three) in achieving a Pearson Hat-Trick.
Alexander Ovechkin, of Moscow, Russia, appeared in 81 games for the Washington Capitals, ranking 3rd in the NHL in both goals (52) and points (106). His 106 points were nearly double the second-place scorer on his team, and his 52 goals were almost one-quarter of the Capitals’ season total (23%), an NHL-best. While the highly-touted rookie battled the likes of Sidney Crosby, Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist for top first-year honours, his highlight-reel goals were enough for all his peers to give him the nod as a Pearson Finalist. At just 20 years of age, Ovechkin would be the youngest player to ever win the Lester B. Pearson Award, passing 21 year old Wayne Gretzky in 1981-82. Ovechkin would also be the first NHL rookie to take home the honour.
Joe Thornton, of London, Ontario, Canada appeared in 81 games during the 2005-06 season, suiting up for 23 games with the Boston Bruins and 58 contests with the San Jose Sharks. Thornton lead the league in points (125) and assists (96). Thornton’s 96 assists were 25 more than any other player, and the NHL’s highest total in 12 seasons. He also tied for 6th with a plus/minus (+31). Should he or Ovechkin win the Pearson, they would join Mario Lemieux, Eric Lindros, and Guy Lafleur as the only first-overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft to do so. This is Thornton’s second nomination for the Lester B. Pearson Award, finishing as a runner-up to Markus Naslund in 2002-03.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association also launched the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award Contest today on www.nhlpa.com. Fans are encouraged to “Be A Player!” and select the Lester B. Pearson Award recipient, just like the players do. A random draw will take place June 22, 2006 to determine the Grand Prize winner and second and third place finishers.
Fans and media are encouraged to visit www.nhlpa.com for further background information on the Lester B. Pearson Award, in-depth Finalist profiles, multimedia features, and the Pearson Contest and Prizes.
Jagr, the Lester B. Pearson Award winner in 1998-99 and 1999-00, re-affirmed his status as one of the league’s elite offensive players with his 5th career 100+ point campaign, while Thornton, a Pearson finalist himself in 2002-03, narrowly edged Jagr in the battle for most points in the regular season. Ovechkin finished behind his fellow Pearson finalists to round out the top 3 point leaders, becoming just the second rookie ever (Teemu Selanne) to notch 50+ goals and 100+ points.
Named for the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Lester B. Pearson Award has been voted on by the players since the 1970-71 season, when Phil Esposito was the inaugural recipient. Wayne Gretzky captured the award an unmatched five times. The award will be presented during the NHL Awards Ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, June 22, 2006.
The finalists will allocate a total of $40,000 to the grassroots hockey programs of their choice through the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund, with the winner’s share being $20,000; $10,000 will be allocated by each of the remaining finalists. Launched in November 1999, the Goals & Dreams fund was created by NHLPA members to assist grassroots hockey, and has distributed more than $15 million worldwide to a variety of hockey initiatives.
Jaromir Jagr, of Kladno, Czech Republic, appeared in 82 games for the New York Rangers, securing top 3 spots in the NHL for goals (2nd – 54), assists (3rd – 69), points (2nd – 123), and plus/minus (tied for 3rd [+34]). Rangers fans enjoyed his first full season in New York as he helped carry the team to their first playoff berth since 1996-97, and with his stellar season, he now ranks 2nd to Hall of Famer Stan Mikita for career points by a European-born player. The skilled forward is also no stranger to the Pearson Award, capturing the honour twice previously. Jagr hopes to join only Wayne Gretzky (five), Mario Lemieux (four), and Guy Lafleur (three) in achieving a Pearson Hat-Trick.
Alexander Ovechkin, of Moscow, Russia, appeared in 81 games for the Washington Capitals, ranking 3rd in the NHL in both goals (52) and points (106). His 106 points were nearly double the second-place scorer on his team, and his 52 goals were almost one-quarter of the Capitals’ season total (23%), an NHL-best. While the highly-touted rookie battled the likes of Sidney Crosby, Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist for top first-year honours, his highlight-reel goals were enough for all his peers to give him the nod as a Pearson Finalist. At just 20 years of age, Ovechkin would be the youngest player to ever win the Lester B. Pearson Award, passing 21 year old Wayne Gretzky in 1981-82. Ovechkin would also be the first NHL rookie to take home the honour.
Joe Thornton, of London, Ontario, Canada appeared in 81 games during the 2005-06 season, suiting up for 23 games with the Boston Bruins and 58 contests with the San Jose Sharks. Thornton lead the league in points (125) and assists (96). Thornton’s 96 assists were 25 more than any other player, and the NHL’s highest total in 12 seasons. He also tied for 6th with a plus/minus (+31). Should he or Ovechkin win the Pearson, they would join Mario Lemieux, Eric Lindros, and Guy Lafleur as the only first-overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft to do so. This is Thornton’s second nomination for the Lester B. Pearson Award, finishing as a runner-up to Markus Naslund in 2002-03.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association also launched the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award Contest today on www.nhlpa.com. Fans are encouraged to “Be A Player!” and select the Lester B. Pearson Award recipient, just like the players do. A random draw will take place June 22, 2006 to determine the Grand Prize winner and second and third place finishers.
Fans and media are encouraged to visit www.nhlpa.com for further background information on the Lester B. Pearson Award, in-depth Finalist profiles, multimedia features, and the Pearson Contest and Prizes.
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