New York Rangers forward Dominic Moore won the 2014 Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Moore sat out the 2012-13 season after the death of his wife Katie before returning to the NHL with the Rangers this season.
He helped his team make a spirited run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and founded the Katie Moore Foundation in 2013.
Moore spoke with the New York Times about the challenges he faced after his wife’s death:
“Coming back after missing so much time was incredibly difficult,” Moore said. “There were no shortcuts, and I owe a lot to the people around me for helping me get through. My attitude has always been to get better every day, and this mentality really helped me this year.”
Moore, 33, is the fifth Rangers player to win this award.
Other nominees included New Jersey Devils winger Jaromir Jagr and Carolina Hurricanes center Manny Malhotra.