Similar to the Masterton Trophy, where all teams get a nominee, the Philadelphia Flyers announced on Wednesday that Scott Laughton would be the team’s nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
The award is handed out by the NHL to the player who “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” The winner is chosen by a committee of NHL executives led by commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly and they will follow and apply specific criteria when they determine the finalists and then subsequently the winner, which includes: 1) Clear and measurable positive impact on the community, 2) Investment of time and resources, 3) Commitment to a particular cause or community, 4) Commitment to the League’s community initiatives, 5) Creativity of programming, and 6) Use of influence and engagement with others.
With each team having to choose their nominee, the Flyers didn’t have to think too hard on their decision of Scott Laughton. The 27 year-old forward has gone above and beyond within his community over the duration of his nine-year career with the Flyers, but none bigger than this season. For starters, he represents the Flyers’ Hockey is for Everyone and You Can Play initiatives as their ambassadors and helps them in any way possible, whether that be through in-kind support or monetary donations.
Laughton also hosted individuals from the LGBTQ+
community at 12 home games this season, including gay female hockey players who had just recently come out to their team. One of the players that he had invited had also just lost their grandfather, who was a rather instrumental figure in her hockey endeavours, so Laughton went above and beyond and awarded her with a stick that was signed by the entire Flyers team after the game.
Laughton was chosen as the Flyers’ nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy last season as well after earning the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award at the Flyers’ end-of-season awards ceremony. The winner of the award will receive a $25,000 donation to the charity of their choice, while the other two finalists will each receive a $5,000 donation for a charity of their choosing as well.
Scott Laughton looks to become the first Philadelphia Flyer to take home the award, which has been handed out since the 1978-79 season.
