The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association on Monday today revealed the names of the nominees for the National Hockey League’s 2009 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy from the NHL’s five Atlantic Division clubs, including Lowell Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen representing New Jersey.
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the NHL player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." The award was presented by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited those qualities. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, as a result of an on-ice injury.
After rejoining the Devils’ organization last summer with the expectation that he would tend goal for the team’s AHL affiliate in Lowell, the 32-year-old Clemmensen got an unexpected chance at a No. 1 job on the NHL level in mid-November when Martin Brodeur was injured.
While Brodeur was out for nearly four months, Clemmensen backstopped New Jersey by going 25-13-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts. He became just the second goaltender in team history (Brodeur is the other) to win 25 games in a season and turned the New Jersey net back over to Brodeur in late February with the Devils in first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Masterton Trophy will be awarded at the 2009 NHL Awards broadcast on June 18.
