GIORDANO NAMED FLAMES NOMINEE FOR THE BILL MASTERTON TROPHY

The Calgary Flames announced today that Mark Giordano has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Calgary chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA). The annual award goes to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Calgary Chapter of the PHWA on Mark Giordano:
Mark Giordano's character, work ethic, perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game make him the Calgary Flames nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award is voted on by local members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association - and it's the 36-year-old captain's second straight year as the team's pick for the prestigious nod.
"It's pretty special to be nominated," said Giordano. "I took a look at the list of the past winners and it's a cool group to be a part of. You look at those guys and a lot of them have been through different things through their life and persevered. To be mentioned and nominated is awesome."
On the ice, Giordano has established himself as one of the NHL's elite defenceman which was recognized league-wide at the end of the 2018-19 campaign when he hoisted the Norris Trophy, becoming the first 35-year-old to capture the award since Nicklas Lidstrom.
His 893 career National Hockey League appearances - all with the Flames - have been a testament to his workhorse-like approach to the game. Giordano also didn't miss a beat after sitting out 10 games with a hamstring injury during the month of February.
And while the Toronto native saw his season cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pause on the 2019-20 National Hockey League season, he still was one of the Flames most important players during their quest for a playoff spot. In 60 games, Giordano's five goals and 26 assists had him seventh in team scoring. Undrafted in the Ontario Hockey League and the NHL, Giordano has become the poster child boy for perseverance.
Off the ice, his charitable efforts - along with his wife Lauren's contributions - have been widely recognized during the ongoing pandemic and appreciated by the Calgary community. While Calgary was in lockdown, the Giordanos were often spotted participating in birthday drive-bys along with their children Jack and Reese, cruising in their vehicle along with the Calgary Fire Department with balloons flying and honking their horn to brighten days as many were isolating in their homes.
In April, a woman revealed in a heart-warming social media post that a representative of the family had covered her $430 grocery bill at Walmart. Lauren also scoured social media to help those in need, including providing a laptop for one family so they were able to get their education and toys for children. They are also active in raising money for the Calgary Board of Education year-round through the Team Giordano program which promotes physical fitness and academics.
- Professional Hockey Writers Association
Video: The very best from your captain so far this campaign
During his 14 seasons with the Calgary Flames, the defending Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenceman, has been a great contributor to both the team and the Calgary community. A caring heart and a welcoming personality, Giordano is approachable to fans of all ages and has demonstrated a long history of community service, in addition to his on-ice excellence.
In 2011, Giordano alongside his wife Lauren launched a unique community program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity called 5-for-5. During its two seasons, the 5-for-5 initiative helped provide the funding to build five homes. Of these homes, four were built in developing countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, India and the Philippines), while the fifth home was built in the Calgary area.
Giordano continued to commit himself to the Calgary community through the launch of Team Giordano in September 2014. In partnership with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the Calgary Flames Foundation, Pizza 73 and the Italian Open Charity Golf Tournament, Team Giordano has donated $600,000 to four Calgary schools, impacting 1,900 students per year. The funding supports the purchase of new computers, floor hockey and physical education equipment, school supplies and learning materials needed by schools along with a program that provides students mentorship opportunities developed and supported by Mark and Lauren.
As a result of Team Giordano's impact, Mark and Lauren were named the recipients of the Calgary Board of Education's Lighthouse Award, presented annually to an organization or program for its contributions to the CBE, its schools and its programs. Mark continued to put his name behind other important community causes. Giordano has marched in the annual Calgary Pride Parade several times, along with lending his voice in support of the You Can Play Project, an advocacy program that challenges sports teams to stamp out discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In recognition of his community efforts, Giordano was the recipient of the 2014-15 NHL Foundation Player Award presented annually to the player "who applies the core values of hockey - commitment, perseverance and teamwork - to enrich the lives of people in his community."
His efforts in the community have also been acknowledged on numerous occasions by the Calgary Flames organization, beginning in March of 2012, when the club named Giordano the recipient of the J.R. McCaig Award. The J.R. McCaig Award honours two Calgary Flames personnel, a player and staff member, who best exemplify Mr. McCaig's enduring virtues of respect, courtesy and compassion for all individuals he encountered both in his professional and everyday life. Giordano continued to be recognized when on March 8, 2016 he was named the recipient of the 2015-16 Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award, presented annually to the Flames player who best exemplifies perseverance, determination and leadership on the ice, combined with dedication to community service off the ice.
In 2017, Mark Giordano became the first NHL player to receive the prestigious Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a positive impact on their community through sports.
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was first presented by the NHL Writers' Association in 1968 to commemorate the late William Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited, to a high degree, the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968 after an injury sustained during a hockey game. Two Flames have won the trophy, Lanny McDonald in 1983 and Gary Roberts in 1996.