Las Vegas, NV - Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere was honored with the 2011 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The 37-year-old native of Quebec sustained a concussion and fractured orbital bone during the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs when he
blocked a shot with his face. He was expected to miss the remainder of the
postseason, but returned and helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals.
However, concussion-related symptoms returned and he remained on the
club’s long-term injury list this season, but he’s continued to serve the
Flyers in several capacities, particularly as a mentor for young players in
the organization.
He joins Bobby Clarke (1972) and Tim Kerr (1989) as members of the Philadelphia organization to be recognized.
“It’s perfect that ‘Lucky’ is giving me this award because I spent so much time with him because he’s a great professional and a guy I look up to,” Laperriere said in honor of former teammate Luc Robitaille, who presented him with the trophy.
“First off, congratulations to all the nominees and winners tonight. They all have done a great job. It’s been a tough year, I won’t lie to you,” Laperriere continued. “Playing hockey is my life…if it wasn’t for the Flyers, Mr. Snider and Paul Holmgren…Chris Pronger, Zack Hill, Jim McCrossin it would have been an even tougher year. But they helped keep me in the game throughout the year and to help the younger kids…so, thank you very much.”
Anaheim goaltender Ray Emery and Calgary forward Daymond Langkow – both former Flyers — were the other finalists.
Emery returned to the NHL late this season and helped the Ducks in their push
for a playoff spot after a career-threatening injury. He underwent bone-graft
surgery last April to repair a deteriorated ball joint in his right hip, the
result of a disease called avascular necrosis, which interrupts blood flow to
the area and causes cells to die. After months of rehabilitation he signed
with Anaheim as a free agent on February 7 and had a record of 7-2-0 with a
2.28 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 10 games.
Langkow suffered a fractured vertebra on March 21, 2010 when he was struck in the neck with the full force of a hard shot by teammate Ian White. After a
lengthy rehab process that was twice stopped because of recurring problems,
Langkow was cleared to play and took the ice on April 1, recording an assist
with a plus-two rating in Calgary’s 3-2 win at St. Louis.