Wild goalie Josh Harding, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year, is one of three finalists for the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award goes to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. It is named for the former North Stars forward, who is the only player in league history to die as a result of injuries suffered on the ice.
The other finalists are Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh and Adam McQuaid of Boston.
Harding, 28, played in five regular season games and five playoff games for the Wild. He missed most of the season while battling issues related to medicating his illness.
Here is the NHL's release on the award:
NEW YORK (May 14, 2013) -- Center Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh
Penguins, goaltender Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild and defenseman Adam
McQuaid of the Boston Bruins are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Bill
Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded "to the player who best
exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to
hockey," the National Hockey League announced today.
A $2,500 grant from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association
(PHWA) is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in
Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the Masterton Trophy winner.
The local chapters of the PHWA submitted nominations for the
Masterton Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season and the top three
vote-getters were designated as finalists. The winner will be announced
during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be
released at a later date.