When Ekman-Larsson announced he had signed a long-term contract with the Coyotes last July, he made the announcement at the Boys & Girls Club because the organization is a huge part of what Arizona means to him. In July, he donated $125,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs' Virginia G. Piper Branch at Laguna Elementary School in Scottsdale and, for the past several years, has purchased a suite at Gila River Arena for kids to watch Coyotes games and meet him post-game. He's spent time visiting clubs, attended their gala -- in which he bid on auction items and allowed B&GC to auction off an experience with him -- and served as a judge for the B&GC youth of the year program. The first-year Coyotes captain also was active in the club'sHockey Talks program for mental health awareness, participated in several club initiatives in support of Hockey Fights Cancer, served as the team's Hockey is for Everyone ambassador and supported Playworks in an anti-bullying campaign by sharing the message that "Real Players Don't Bully."
During his ninth season as a member of the Coyotes, the veteran blueliner participated in all team community events including the annual team hospital visit, Kaboom! playground build, Face-Off Luncheon, charity golf tournament, and Celebrity Waiter's gala.
The other two finalists for the award are Jason Zucker of the Minnesota Wild and Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.
The first-place finisher will receive a $40,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of the winner's choice and the two runners-up will each receive a $5,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.
