NEW YORK, NY  (NHL Press Release) – The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association, in collaboration with national television partners NBC Sports Group, CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada and NHL Network, and NHL.com, will celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the top players, coaches and executives of the 2012-13 NHL^® season during two television specials at the 2013 Stanley Cup^® Final. 
       
At 7 p.m. ET as a lead-in to Game 2 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, NBC and CBC will co-produce and co-host a program announcing the winners of the Calder Memorial Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Vezina Trophy.

Originating from the location of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the hour-long program will be televised on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. and in Canada by CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada and will feature the hosts and hockey analysts from both networks. The program also will be streamed live online at cbcsports.ca.

At 5 p.m. ET the previous evening, the day prior to Game 2 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, NHL Network™ in the U.S. and Canada will televise and NHL.com will stream live the announcement of the winners of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Frank J. Selke Trophy, Jack Adams Award, King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone, NHL Foundation Player Award and the NHL General Manager of the Year Award. The program will be hosted by NHL Network personalities and produced from the NHL Network set on location at the Stanley Cup Final.

NHL.com will continue to provide full coverage of the NHL Awards™ including live updates of each award, an interactive chat with fans during both television specials, video features and reaction from the winners.

        Among the most popular events on the NHL calendar, the NHL Awards will return to Las Vegas in 2014, one of the most popular travel and recreation destinations on the planet. Since 2008, the NHL’s biggest names have joined with celebrities from music, stage and screen in Las Vegas to celebrate the best hockey players in the world in a star-studded spectacular.
       
        Following are the 2013 NHL Awards finalists, in alphabetical order:

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Perseverance and dedication to hockey)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild
Adam McQuaid, Boston Bruins

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top rookie)
Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens
Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers
Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (Top defensive forward)
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (Most valuable player to his team)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
John Tavares, New York Islanders

JACK ADAMS AWARD (Top head coach)
Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks
Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top defenseman)
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (Best sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability)
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Matt Moulson, New York Islanders
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

MARK MESSIER NHL LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED BY BRIDGESTONE
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

NHL GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Marc Bergevin, Montreal Canadiens
Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks
Ray Shero, Pittsburgh Penguins

TED LINDSAY AWARD (Most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHLPA)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

VEZINA TROPHY (Top goaltender)
Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks 

by Ryan Adams

It has been one of the largest charity events in the Bay Area every year for the past three years.  The Bay's largest cockail party features familiar faces from the Bucs, Lightning, and Rays as well as the Bulls and Rowdies.  The Sneaker Soiree, in its third year in 2013, was once again a huge success on Thursday evening.  Highlights of the night included awards for the most memorable moments in Tampa Bay sports as well as Mayor Buckhorn honoring newly retired Buc Ronde Barber with the key to the city.

One guest of the evening was Lightning legend Marty St. Louis who sat down with 620 WDAE's own Tom Krasniqi for a few minutes to talk about the Bolts and owner Jeffrey Vinik.

"The thing that stands out the most for everybody here, I think, is what he's done in the community," said St. Louis of Vinik.  "Just the hero thing where he donates $50,000 to every home game to a local hero has been tremendous.  And this year, even with the lockout, he was still doing that regardless."

As the oldest player in history to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer at age 37, St. Louis says his kids hate the idea of him ever hanging up his skates.

"Well they don't want me to retire, that's for sure," he said.  "If it was just for them I think I'd play forever."

Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper joined Steve Duemig on Thursday and showed a lot of enthusiasm as the Bolt's newest Head Coach. "Its an amazing experience", Cooper said about his new appointed position. Cooper also gave high praises to Lightning owner, Jeff Vinik, calling him an unbelievable owner. "You have to put at the top of owners", Cooper said of Vinik.

Last year was a regraded as a disappointing season for the Bolts, being only two years removed from one win away from the Stanley Cup. Former Head Coach Guy Boucher was let go in late March, and Jon Cooper was quickly hired as the new general of the Bolts. Cooper was the coach of the Norfolk Admiral, the Lightning's AHL affiliate, before moving to the NHL. The biggest difference for Cooper, the magnitude of the constant media in the NHL.

Cooper is well aware where the Lightning and their fans want to go, the playoffs. Cooper said that the core of the team is all here and he wants to do what he can to take them where they want to go.

One thing is for sure, Cooper is ready for his first full year as a NHL head coach. "Can hardly wait to get to it."

Listen to everything Coach Cooper had to say to Big Dog.