by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor
In a precedent-breaking instance, the National Hockey League presented an award to a man who didn't play one minute this past season.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere was honored with the 2011 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, at the NHL's annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
Even in circumstances of extreme duress, such as when Gord Kluzak exhausted all of his knee-operation options in 1990, or when John Cullen suffered through a bout with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and staged a brief 1998 comeback, the Masterton winner had returned to the ice in the year which he was honored.
It has been the case in every season since the Masterton was created back in 1968 for its namesake, who died shortly after falling and hitting his bare head on the ice while playing for the Minnesota North Stars. Not so for Laperriere, who was handed the trophy by former long-time Los Angeles Kings teammate and fellow native of La Belle Province, Luc Robitaille.
The 37-year-old native of Quebec sustained a concussion and fractured orbital bone during the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs when he blocked a shot with his face. He was expected to miss the remainder of the postseason, but returned and helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals.
However, concussion-related symptoms returned and he remained on the club's long-term injury list this season, but he's continued to serve the Flyers in several capacities, particularly as a mentor for young players in the organization.
He joins Bobby Clarke (1972) and Tim Kerr (1989) as members of the Philadelphia organization to be recognized.
“First off, congratulations to all the nominees and winners tonight. They all have done a great job. It’s been a tough year, I won’t lie to you,” Laperriere stated. “Playing hockey is my life…if it wasn’t for the Flyers, Mr. Snider and Paul Holmgren…Chris Pronger, Zack Hill, Jim McCrossin it would have been an even tougher year. But they helped keep me in the game throughout the year and to help the younger kids…so, thank you very much.”
Anaheim goaltender Ray Emery and Calgary forward Daymond Langkow -- both former Flyers -- were the other finalists.
Emery returned to the NHL late this season and helped the Ducks in their push for a playoff spot after a career-threatening injury. He underwent bone-graft surgery last April to repair a deteriorated ball joint in his right hip, the result of a disease called avascular necrosis, which interrupts blood flow to the area and causes cells to die. After months of rehabilitation he signed with Anaheim as a free agent on February 7 and had a record of 7-2-0 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 10 games.
Langkow suffered a fractured vertebra on March 21, 2010 when he was struck in the neck with the full force of a hard shot by teammate Ian White. After a lengthy rehab process that was twice stopped because of recurring problems, Langkow was cleared to play and took the ice on April 1, recording an assist with a plus-two rating in Calgary's 3-2 win at St. Louis.
Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals took home the award last season.
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