The Carolina Hurricanes are comprised of several really good men, but one of them is being recognized for going above and beyond. Goalie, Cam Ward has been nominated by his teammates for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, an NHL award given annually to the player who "best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community."
The listing of Ward's qualifications goes on and on. Most noteworthy is his involvement in the Special Olympics and the formation of Cam's Champs. The young goalie is donating $4 per save this season and has accumulated a total of about $6,000 so far. He also donates money each time he is recognized as the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd star of a game.
Past winners of the prestigious trophy include Ron Francis, Jarome Iginla, Olaf Kolzig, Saku Koivu, and Brendan Shanahan. No one has ever won the award twice. Congratulations to Cam! I can't think of anyone more deserving.
In other news, Justin Williams and Chad LaRose continue to practice with the team, provided there is "no-contact". Both need to get back into grade A shape before they can start banging bodies.
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals come to town for a key match-up Tuesday night. In case you somehow missed it, last week the Russian superstar became the first NHL player in 12 years to score 60 goals in a single season. He still has a few more games to add to this season's total.
The Caps are just 5 points behind the Canes, so this is another big game for both teams, although it's more crucial for Washington. They should be especially desperate for a win. I expect to see Huet in net for them.
I'll save more about the game for my normal Pre-Game Post.
Tim McGraw