Markstrom rewarded for incredible season, earns nomination for major NHL award

Well earned and well deserved. Congrats, Marky!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Markstrom rewarded for incredible season, earns nomination for major NHL award
Zuma Press

Throughout the day today the Professional Hockey Writers Association will be revealing all 31 nominees for the 2018-19 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, but Vancouver Canucks insider Ben Kuzma managed to break the news of the Canucks’ selection early. 

Receiving the first major NHL Award nomination of his entire career is Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom.



For the unaware, the Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Suffice it to say that everything Sekera has gone through this season shows his incredible dedication to his sport and his teammates.

Markstrom has been an absolute rock for the Canucks this year, especially since the calendar flipped to 2019. Most Canucks fans seem to feel that he’ll also claim the team’s in-house MVP award for his heroics during the 2018-19 campaign.

“It’s weird and I was surprised because you look at the people who have won it (nomination) and you kind of wonder what you’re doing there, but it’s a big honour,” said Markstrom when he learned of the nomination.

“Every time you get acknowledged for your play and off-ice stuff and small things, it’s because we have a room where everybody helps each other. We’re a tight group.”

Canucks head coach Travis Green isn’t surprised that Markstrom was tabbed as the team’s selection for the award.

“The maturity and passion and leadership he has shown has come in a way that’s different than the past,” said Green. “There’s a professionalism that you’re proud of and being a starting goalie in a Canadian market is a lot of pressure on a team that doesn’t score a lot or nights where he lets in four and we win.

“That’s a lot of pressure when he knows he has to be dialed in because there’s not a high-powered offence and to get this award (nomination) is going to mean a lot to him.

“And as a coach, it means a lot because it’s about showing the professionalism that you hope a lot of your young players recognize and grow into.”

Source: Ben Kuzma