Philadelphia Flyers: Wayne Simmonds Mark Messier Award Finalist
Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds has been named as a finalist for the Mark Messier Award.
Philadelphia Flyers alternate captain Wayne Simmonds has been named a finalist for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. Simmonds, along with Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Deryk Engelland and Winnipeg Jets winger Blake Wheeler, were chosen as finalists by Messier himself.
The award originated in 2006 as a monthly award but was first given as a yearly award in 2007. While it was a monthly award, nominees were recommended by the NHL, with final winners being chosen by Messier.
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Messier selects the winner of this award based on on-ice performance, motivation of fellow teammates and dedication to community activities and charitable causes.
On Ice Dedication
While Engelland and Wheeler may be deserving, the case for Simmonds to win this award is overwhelming. Simmonds played through a series of injuries in the 2017-18 season that included a torn pelvis, pulled groin, a grade 3 ankle sprain and a torn ligament in his hand. Despite those injuries, Simmonds managed to score 24 goals, helping the Flyers to the playoffs after missing the postseason dance the previous year.
Community Involvement
That is just on the ice. Off the ice, Simmonds is just as deserving. During every other Flyers home game, Simmonds hosted a military family in a private suite. After the game, Simmonds spent time with each family off the ice. Simmonds also hosted an Air Force hockey team for a practice when they finished their tour of duty. Simmonds did all of that without any publicity at all.
Wayne also started his own charitable organization, Wayne’s Road Hockey Warriors in 2012 This organization helps children from Simmonds childhood hometown of Scarborough, Ontario to enjoy the game of ice hockey. Simmonds knows how expensive the game can be. His first pieces of hockey equipment were all second hand. Simmonds working-class parents struggled with even that cost.
Simmonds is also active in the Philadelphia community, as a board member for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. He has held that position since 2014. Any Flyers fan knows how dear that organization was to the late Ed Snider; that he included Wayne Simmonds on that board speaks volumes about the player nicknamed SImmer.
Role Model
More than all of this, Wayne Simmonds is one of the few African American players in the NHL. He has forged a path for minority children aspiring to the NHL while dealing with racial slurs and even bananas being thrown at him. Simmonds has done so with a grace far beyond his years.
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The winner of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership award will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 20th.