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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, April 26, 2013
GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- The Phoenix Coyotes announced today the winners of the club’s 2012-13 team awards.
Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson won the Fry’s Food Stores Team MVP Award while captain Shane Doan captured the Desert Schools Leading Scorer Award. Center Boyd Gordon earned the Arizona Lottery Jukka Nieminen Memorial Trophy given to the player voted by the fans as the team’s hardest working player and goaltender Mike Smith won the Ganem Jewelers Three-Star Award. Forward Paul Bissonnette was selected as the Gila River Casinos Man of the Year Award for dedication to the community.
In his fourth NHL season, Ekman-Larsson has emerged as one of the NHL’s best defenseman. Entering tonight’s game against Colorado, the 6-foot-2, 190 pound Ekman-Larsson leads the Coyotes in time on ice per game (25:03) and ranks fourth in scoring with 3-20-23 to win the Fry’s Food Stores Team MVP Award. The Coyotes broadcast media along with beat writers from the Arizona Republic and Foxsportsarizona.com voted for the award.
Coyotes captain Shane Doan leads all Coyotes players in goals and points with 13-13-26 after 46 games to capture the Desert Schools Leading Scorer Award. The 6-foot-1, 223 pound Doan also leads the team in hits (118) and all Coyotes forwards in shots (127).
Center Boyd Gordon received the Jukka Nieminen Memorial Trophy as the Coyotes’ hardest working player. The 6-foot-0, 200 pound Gordon leads the team in faceoff percentage (58.1%) and all Coyotes forwards in blocked shots (41). Gordon was selected as the winner by fans who voted at PhoenixCoyotes.com.
Entering tonight’s game versus the Colorado Avalanche, Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith has earned 29 star points in 2012-13 to win the Ganem Jewelers Three Star Award. Smith has been selected a first star (7) times and has been chosen as a first star at Jobing.com Arena (4) times this season. The 6-foot-4, 215 pound Smith has posted a record of 15-12-4 this season and is tied for the NHL lead in shutouts with five.
Coyotes forward Paul Bissonnette earned the Gila River Casinos Man of the Year Award for his dedication, commitment and passion for bettering the lives of those in the community during his fourth season as a member of the Coyotes.
Bissonnette was very active in the community this season working with several charities including Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) which provides shelter and supportive services to nearly 10,000 of the Valley’s homeless each year. For over 25 years, CASS has been empowering homeless individuals and families to become self-sufficient and effectively end their homelessness.
For the second straight season, Bissonnette brought 100 homeless individuals from the CASS Vista Colina Emergency Family Shelter to a Coyotes game. The Coyotes donated the tickets and Bissonnette paid for the transportation from the shelter in Phoenix and for food vouchers for all in attendance.
