USA Today's Kevin Allen gets Lester Patrick Trophy for service to hockey in U.S.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - USA Today's Kevin Allen has been named the recipient of the 2013 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Allen has been USA Today's national hockey writer since 1986, covering about 600 Stanley Cup playoff games, 26 Cup finals and seven Olympics. He has written 16 hockey books during his career.

Allen, from Wayne, Mich., has served as the president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association since 2003.

He will be honoured at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Detroit on Dec. 2.

The award honours the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in the sport as a player, coach and general manager.