Sharp Nominated for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

The Dallas Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) is nominating forward Patrick Sharp as the Stars candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2016-17 season. The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Sharp has displayed the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey throughout his career, but especially this season. Sharp twice was sidelined by concussions during the 2016-17 campaign for a total of 26 games. He battled back and played in 37-straight games, but revealed in the process that he has been playing through hip pain that will require season-ending surgery on Tuesday.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario has skated 48 games this season and has registered 18 points (8-10=18), while logging 15:56 in ice time. Among team leaders, he ranks fourth on the club with 146 shots on goal, despite missing 26 games.
Sharp partnered this season with Leukemia Texas, a local non-profit that improves the lives of those with leukemia through the funding of research and patient aid in Texas. With help from Leukemia Texas, Patrick selected four individuals living with Leukemia. He gifted each individual with a patient aid grant and tickets to a Dallas Stars hockey game. At morning skate of the game selected, whether he was playing or not, Patrick would meet his guests and give them a tour of the locker room.

ABOUT THE MASTERTON TROPHY
The Masterton Trophy winner is selected from a poll of the 30 chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season and a grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the winner.
The PHWA first presented the Masterton Trophy in 1968 to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton is the only NHL player to die from injuries sustained in a game. He passed away on Jan. 15, 1968.