The first, and likely far from only, award nomination has come in for Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere during his stellar rookie campaign.
The 22-year-old Monday was announced as the Flyers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, annually given to a player who best “exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
The award is named after former Minnesota North Stars player Bill Masterton, who died in 1968 after an injury sustained during a game.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Gostisbehere, who leads all rookie defensemen in goals with 16, assists with 25 and points with 41 in 56 games played. His 41 points place him sixth among all rookies.
Each NHL city’s chapter of the Pro Hockey Writers Association selects a nominee for each of the league’s 30 clubs with a winner being chosen at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas in June.
The answer as to why Gostisbehere was chosen as the Flyers’ nominee is simple. He was chosen for the way he fought back from a torn ACL last season with the Phantoms to take the NHL and the Flyers by storm this season.
“It’s just doing your job and going to the rink every day, even though it’s not hockey,” Gostisbehere said after thanking his surgeon and the Flyers’ training staff.
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“It’s something different. But I have a great support system around me with friends and family and my girlfriend as well. It’s a good thing.”
The injury occurred last November when Gostisbehere, the Flyers’ third-round pick in 2012, was sent back down to the Phantoms following a quick debut cameo with the big club.
In a game against Manchester, then the Los Angeles Kings’ affiliate, he absorbed a check and his knee hit the boards. He struggled to make it back to his skates and was later diagnosed with a torn ACL, which ended his season.
Gostisbehere was steadfast in saying his recovery was the most difficult challenge of his young career.
“It was my first year pro and it could have gone a lot of different ways,” he said. “But it affected me positively.
“I never doubted myself, but were some bad days and negative days where you could have had a better day rehab-wise. It’s about the ups and downs in rehab. Take those positives and run with them.”
If the Masterton Trophy sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because a Flyer has won it recently. Ian Laperriere, now an assistant coach with the Flyers, won it in 2011.
“With the injury he had last year, it’s a big injury for anybody,” Laperriere said of Gostisbehere. "And especially for a young guy who didn’t have much professional hockey experience. Because of that injury and the way he came back this year and helped us out, it’s amazing.
“He’s one of those kids that has a lot of success early in his career and he looks fine. He’s not cocky at all. He’s just the same kid I met when I used to watch him at Union (College).”
The Flyers have had three previous Masterton winners: Laperriere, Tim Kerr in 1989 and Bobby Clarke in 1972.