And the award giving begins........

[talkingcanes]

Roloson edges Kiprusoff to win 2003-04 MBNA/Mastercard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award

Roloson compiled a .932728 save percentage (1,323 shots, 1,234 saves) in 48 games, narrowly edging Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames.
NEW YORK -- Dwayne Roloson of the Minnesota Wild is the winner of the 2003-04 MBNA/MasterCard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, a promotional award presented to the goaltender with the NHL's best save percentage during the regular season. Roloson compiled a .932728 save percentage (1,323 shots, 1,234 saves) in 48 games, narrowly edging Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames, who finished with a .932712 save percentage (966 shots, 901 saves) in 38 appearances, by just .000016. The Wild netminder made 24 saves in shutting out the St. Louis Blues on the final day of the season to surpass Kiprusoff.

Save percentage is calculated by dividing total saves by total shots faced. To be eligible for the Saving Grace Award, a goaltender must have appeared in at least 25 games during the regular season.
Rounding out the top five are Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers, Vesa Toskala of the San Jose Sharks and Andrew Raycroft of the Boston Bruins (see chart below).

The award is named for Roger Crozier, one of the League's top goaltenders throughout his career. In 14 seasons, Crozier compiled a 206-197-70 record in 518 games, a 3.04 GAA, and 30 shutouts with the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and Washington Capitals. His career was highlighted by a Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1965 and a Conn Smythe Trophy for his MVP performance in the 1966 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Crozier joined MBNA America Bank in 1983 as director of facility management, responsible for managing MBNA's rapid physical expansion. He passed away on January 11, 1996.

[talkingcanes]

Martin St. Louis and Marek Malik share Bud Light Plus-Minus Award


NEW YORK (April 6, 2004) -- Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Marek Malik of the Vancouver Canucks, with plus-35 ratings, are co-winners of the 2003-04 Bud Light Plus-Minus Award. St. Louis, with 94 points, led the NHL in scoring and helped Tampa Bay to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Malik helped lead Vancouver to a first-place finish in the Northwest Division and third overall in the Western Conference (46-22-8-6).

The annual promotional award is presented to the player, having played a minimum of 60 games, who leads the League in "plus-minus" statistics at the end of the regular season. Players on the ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal by their team receive a "plus," while those on the ice for the opposing team receive a "minus." The overall "plus-minus" rating is the difference between the accumulated "plus" and "minus" totals.

Bud Light is in its sixth season as sponsor of the plus-minus award. A proud supporter of the NHL, Anheuser-Busch is in its 10th season as an official marketing partner of the NHL.

[StormShaman]

:D

[talkingcanes]

Sakic wins inaugural NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award

Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche, with 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists) in 41 road games, captured the inaugural NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award. Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers was runner-up with 48 road points. The Avalanche compiled the best road record in the Western Conference - 21-8-7-5, 54 points.

The NHL and its corporate partner, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., introduced the promotional award for the 2003-04 season to honor NHL players who accumulate the most road points.

As winner of the award, Sakic will receive a spectacular Sheraton Sweet Sleeper BedSM. Sheraton also will donate a million Starpoints ® on behalf of Sakic to the A-T Children's Project. The A-T Children's Project raises funds to support and coordinate biomedical research projects, scientific conferences and a clinical center aimed at finding a cure for ataxia-telangiectasia, a rare genetic disease that causes progressive loss of motor control, cancer and immune system problems.

These Starpoints are part of Starwood's award-winning hotel loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®, and can be used for travel expenses including hotel stays, airline tickets and more.


It sounds like some worthy causes will benefit from this, but these awards are starting to sound like the names of the college football bowl games.

Can the IHOP "He ate the biggest breakfast we've ever seen" award be far behind :crazy: Come to think of it, Aaron Ward would be a good bet for that one based on his 64 oz steak and fixins' story :sick:

[tommy]

It sounds like some worthy causes will benefit from this, but these awards are starting to sound like the names of the college football bowl games.

Can the IHOP "He ate the biggest breakfast we've ever seen" award be far behind :crazy: Come to think of it, Aaron Ward would be a good bet for that one based on his 64 oz steak and fixins' story :sick:

Yeah, the MBNA/Master Card Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Roger Crozier is a cool name.

[nccanes]

:D

I want to see TLT and Harry in a photo posing with the trophy. Maybe Harry will carry him on his hip like you do little tots. :evil:

[StormShaman]

:D

I want to see TLT and Harry in a photo posing with the trophy. Maybe Harry will carry him on his hip like you do little tots. :evil:

OK, that made me spray Diet Coke. :crazy: :eek2: :cool: