Hamonic up for Clancy trophy
Award recognizes community efforts
Calgary Flames defenceman Travis Hamonic is once again being recognized as a difference-maker.
The 27-year-old Hamonic was announced Tuesday as the Flames’ nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, an annual nod to “the player that best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy contribution in his community.”
The three finalists for the award will be revealed next week.
When Hamonic was traded to the Flames last summer from the New York Islanders, one of his first requests for his new employer was that he could continue his D-Partner Program, through which he hosts kids who have lost a parent. It’s near and dear to Hamonic, who was just 10 when his father died and — win or lose — always puts on a smile for his post-game meet-and-greets with those special guests.
During his first campaign in Calgary, Hamonic and his wife Stephanie also launched The Northern Project initiative, footing the bill for Indigenous youngsters — and their families — to be treated to an all-expenses-paid trip from Cana- da’s Territories to attend a game at the Saddledome.
They head home with plenty of autographs and souvenirs.
Hamonic’s own collection of keepsakes includes the 2017 NHL Foundation Player Award. The pride of St. Malo, Man., was also honoured by the Flames as the latest recipient of the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award.
“I hope to win and believe we’ll win Stanley Cups and do a lot of good things on the ice. But at the end of it, when I’m 50 or 60, I think you look back and see what kind of impact you had in the community,” Hamonic said during the season.
“People forget stats by that point. Obviously, you want to be remembered as a Stanley Cup champion and we’re working towards that, but I’d rather someone look back and say, ‘He was a good person and tried to do good,’ rather than, ‘He scored 10 goals that year.’
“Those things probably mean more to me, and I think that’s just how I was raised.”