Jean-Yves Ahern – USA TODAY Sports
At the end of each season, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” The player is nominated by his team’s chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) then a winner is selected by members of all 30 chapters of the PHWA voting.
The Montreal chapter of the PHWA announced earlier today that they have nominated Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov for the 2012-13 season.
Markov is in his 12th season with the Canadiens who drafted him in the sixth round (162nd overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. This is the first of the past three seasons that he has played in its entirety (all 45 games that Montreal has played up to this point) as he has struggled with injuries in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee twice and undergoing two surgeries.
Markov definitely embodies perseverance after going through such an ordeal with injuries and being able to overcome them to get to where he right now. He currently has 27 points (9G, 18A) for the season, which is second among Montreal defensemen for points, goals and assists behind P.K. Subban.
Since it was first awarded in the season of 1967-68 there have been five Canadien players who have earned the trophy: Max Pacioretty (2011-12), Saku Koivu (2001-02), Serge Savard (1978-79), Henri Richard (1973-74) and Claude Provost.
Stephanie Lewark is an NHL and Pittsburgh Penguins Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter (@steelcitysports), check out her Facebook page, or add her to your Google+ circle.
