Mikael Backlund voted King Clancy Trophy finalist
Posted Jun 7, 2023 1:11 pm.
Last Updated Jun 7, 2023 1:12 pm.
Mikael Backlund is a King Clancy Memorial Trophy finalist, going to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made noteworthy humanitarian contributions.
THAT’S OUR GUY!
We’re so proud to announce Mikael Backlund is a King Clancy Memorial Trophy finalist, which goes to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contributions in his community pic.twitter.com/HgxSjzBtj4
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 7, 2023
The longest-tenured member of the Calgary Flames recently told Sportsnet 960 The Fan that his love of community work began before he came to the National Hockey League (NHL).
“When I was younger, I started sponsoring a child back home in Sweden, and it’s something I always had a drive for — to help people,” Backlund explained. “I know I’ve been able to live my dream and a privileged life now for a lot of years, and I always want to give back in any way I can.”
He and his wife Frida support many worthy causes, including Kids Cancer Care, Special Olympics Calgary, and ALS Society of Alberta.
Backlund, who was drafted by the Flames in 2007, says the second he joined the organization, he knew how vital community work is in Calgary.
“I could just see the bigger names, the leaders on the team, were doing their part of having their own organizations or doing extra work,” he told Sportsnet 960. “It just set the tone for me to understand that’s what we want to do here, and I want to be a part of it.”
Lanny McDonald won the inaugural King Clancy in 1988; Joe Nieuwendyk and Jarome Iginla also won the trophy while members of the Flames.
The other nominees for this year’s award are New York Islanders’ Anders Lee and Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse.
We’ll learn the winner later this month at the NHL Awards in Nashville.
