Boston Bruins center Gregory Campbell brings a lot of intangibles to a veteran-heavy team, and the local hockey media recognized him for that Friday.
The Boston chapter of the Pro Hockey Writers Association selected Campbell as the Bruins nominee for the Masterton Trophy, the team announced. The trophy is given every year to a player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Campbell is being recognized for his perseverance in coming back from a broken right leg that he suffered during the 2013 Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Campbell finished his shift and helped the Bruins kill off a penalty before hobbling to the bench. He was ready to go when the new season began in October.
“Gregory Campbell’s entire hockey career has been about perseverance, dedication to hockey and paying the highest level of respect to the game he loves so much,” PHWA Boston chapter chairman and CSNNE.com Bruins beat writer Joe Haggerty said in a statement released by the Bruins. “The image of Campbell gritting his way through excruciating pain to finish a penalty-kill shift with a broken leg during last year’s conference final is one nobody will soon forget. It’s also the perfect example of Campbell’s dedication to his team, selflessness and willingness to give every last ounce he has to fully compete. That doesn’t even include Campbell’s heavy involvement in the community, including delivering pies to Boston homeless shelters on Thanksgiving morning each year. The Boston Chapter of the PHWA is proud to nominate Gregory Campbell for this season’s Masterton Trophy.”
Campbell, 30, has seven goals and 12 assists this season while playing in each of the Bruins’ 77 games so far.
Four Bruins players have won the Masterton Trophy since its inception before the 1967-68 season. The most recent was Phil Kessel in 2007. Cam Neely, Gord Kluzak and Charlie Simmer also have won the award as Bruins.
