Paul Holmgren and Bill Daly, longstanding fixtures in the National Hockey League, are set to receive the 2014 Lester Patrick Trophy for "outstanding service to hockey in the United States". NHL.com is reporting that the award, considered to be one of the most prestigious in the sport, will be given as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
The award was originally presented to the NHL by the New York Rangers in 1966, and honors Lester Patrick, considered by many to be a pioneer in the sport. Lester spent 50 years of his life in a variety of roles, from player to coach to general manager.
Daly and Holmgren are both highly respected across the NHL. Daly was named the first-ever deputy commissioner of the NHL and currently serves in a chief advisory role for the league's commissioner Gary Bettman, and Holmgren is the former general manager and current president of the Philadelphia Flyers, a team he also played 10 season for. Daly is considered to have been instrumental in the NHL's relationship with USA Hockey, College Hockey Inc., the American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League. He is also president of the charitable arm of the league, helping to distribute funds and develop initiatives for the NHL Foundation.
Holmgren was a tough, hard-nosed player who boasted a fair amount of skill to pair with an enormous amount of grit. As a player he was an NHL All-Star in 1981 and in 1980 became the first U.S.-born player to pot a hat trick in a Stanley Cup Final game. After his playing career ended, Holmgren entered the Philadelphia Flyers organization as an assistant coach, eventually working his way up the organizational ladder as a head coach, assistant general manager and general manager. Last summer he transitioned from his role as general manager to president.
The ceremony will be held Thursday, Dec. 4, in Minneapolis.
