Over a million votes were cast in the year long program, with NHL fans selecting their choice for the best overall regular season performer. Cruz, who cheers for his hometown Canucks and loves the game for its pace, skill and physical nature, will be on stage as the winner is revealed live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on June 18, 2009.
"On behalf of Scotiabank we would like to thank the fans who took the time to vote for their Scotiabank/NHL Fan Fav," said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Canadian Marketing. "Congratulations to Tony Cruz who has won the opportunity of a lifetime for a hockey fan. As Canada's Hockey Bank, we continue to look for new and innovative ways for people to enjoy the great game of hockey, and are very proud to have been a part of the Scotiabank/NHL Fan Fav."
Throughout the season, NHL fans had the opportunity to vote for the player who demonstrated the best skills and strongest overall performance during that week. All of the weekly Scotiabank/NHL Fan Fav Award nominees from the regular season were evaluated by a panel of NHL experts to narrow the list.
The 10 finalists eligible for the Scotiabank/NHL Fan Fav™ Award were: Calgary Flames' forward Jarome Iginla and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, Carolina Hurricanes' center Eric Staal, Columbus Blue Jackets' goaltender Steve Mason, New Jersey Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur, Pittsburgh Penguins' center Sidney Crosby, San Jose Sharks' goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo and Washington Capitals' defenseman Mike Green and forward Alex Ovechkin.
Tune in to CBC in Canada and VERSUS in the United States to see the fans' selection as the League's best players, celebrities and other NHL VIPs gather in celebration of this season's brightest stars.