The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the PHWA to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. A player from each NHL team is nominated by the local chapter of the PHWA.
McElhinney, 35, is in his 11th NHL season and first with the Hurricanes. Acquired on waivers from Toronto on Oct. 2, he has set career highs in wins (19), starts (30) and minutes played (1,802) this season. The 6'2", 203-pound netminder has registered a 19-9-2 record, 2.53 GAA, .915 save percentage and two shutouts. McElhinney made 31 saves in his Carolina debut, a 3-1 win at Columbus on Oct. 5. The London, Ont., native has made at least 30 saves 10 times this season and has posted a 9-0-1 record in those games. Selected by the Flames in the sixth round, 176th overall, of the 2002 NHL Draft, McElhinney's previous NHL stops include Calgary, Anaheim, Ottawa, Arizona, Columbus and Toronto.
