‘Cal has tremendous memories of Welland’
Clutterbuck’s father accepts city’s top sports award on behalf of his son
You can blame National Hockey League schedule makers for the most notable no-show at this year’s Welland Sports Promotion Committee Awards Night.
With the New York Islanders battling for a playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division with six games remaining in the regular season, Cal Clutterbuck, a forward in his 11th season with the Isles and the National Hockey League’s all-time leader in hits, was unable to return to his hometown for Friday’s ceremony at Casa Dante.
Tim Clutterbuck, using a sound system that was giving feedback at times throughout the ceremony, accepted the H.L. Cudney Memorial Award, the city’s top sports honour, on his son’s behalf.
“Hopefully, this doesn’t give us too much feedback, although feedback is something us Clutterbucks are used to, not always the best feedback,” he quipped as he pretended to hand the mic to a “(New York) Rangers fan.”
The elder Clutterbuck led his remarks with the news that The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association has selected Cal as the Islanders’ nominee for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy, presented annually to an NHL player for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.
Masterton was playing with the former Minnesota North Stars in 1968 when he became the only player in NHL history to die as a result of injuries suffered in a game. He was 29.
Tim Clutterbuck pointed out during an in an interview with Newsday, a daily newspaper that serves Long Island, that Clutterbuck said perseverance and determination were the “major part of his stepping-stones through all of his minor hockey and life experiences here in Welland.”
“And he credits the people who coached him, the people who organized the ice time for him and his teammates,” Tim Clutterbuck said. “He credits his teammates, and he credits everyone in the city of Welland who spent the time and effort to take one minute of their day to do the thing that could make a difference for a young man or a young lady in sports.
“He stated in a New York newspaper that he’s very proud of his roots here in Welland and he couldn’t be happier accepting this award,” Tim Clutterbuck added. “Not just for him but everyone who helped him get here.”
The father also said, “People like Cal truly appreciate everything you do. The path to the NHL is not always as smooth as you might imagine, but it starts in places like this, it starts with people like you, it starts with the commitment of volunteers, coaches, parents who get involved. Cal has tremendous memories of Welland.”
Clutterbuck went on to play parts of two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the former Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and parts of three with the Oshawa Generals after parts of two seasons at the junior-B level with the then Welland Cougars.
After being selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round of the 2006th draft with the 72nd pick, Clutterbuck spent the 200708 season in the American Hockey League with the Houston Aeros before beginning his NHL career with the Wild.
On Nov. 22, he became the first player from Welland to play 1,000 regular-season games in the NHL. His selection as Welland’s sportsperson of the year for 2023 was unanimous.
On March 28, Clutterbuck, 36, made history in a 3-2 road victory over the Florida Panthers, becoming the first player in the NHL to record 4,000 career hits.
The Notre Dame College School graduate, Class of 2005, and his wife, the former Cassie DePalo, also from Welland, live on Long Island with their three daughters — Harper, 11; Willow, 9; and Stevie, 10 months — and a son, River, 6.
On March 28, Clutterbuck, 36, made history in a 3-2 road victory over the Florida Panthers, becoming the first player in the NHL to record 4,000 career hits