The Utah Hockey Club announced earlier this week that Alex Kerfoot has been nominated for the King Clancy Trophy. The award is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. Kerfoot has been a big part of the Salt Lake City community ever since arriving in the city from Arizona.
In 77 games this season, Kerfoot has recorded 24 points. He leads the team in shorthanded goals and has also served as an alternate captain in Utah’s inaugural season. His excellent play and leadership have earned him a one-year extension that he signed right before the trade deadline.
Last season in Arizona, Nick Bjugstad was the nominee for the Arizona Coyotes. This is Kerfoot’s first time being nominated for the award.
How Kerfoot Has Made an Impact in the Utah Community
For the past couple of seasons, Kerfoot has helped grow the sport of women’s hockey. Heading up to Salt Lake City, his passion for growing the sport was never expected to change. However, Kerfoot made an immediate impact right off the bat by donating his personal game tickets to female hockey players with his wife, Marissa.
On top of that, Kerfoot invites those whom he donates tickets to sit on the bench during warm-ups. He makes sure he spends some time during warm-ups to also chat with the participants and give them fist bumps before they leave.
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“We are proud to nominate Alexander for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy,” said Chris Armstrong, who is the president of Utah. “I can’t think of a better representative for the values of our organization. The dedication, leadership, and work ethic he exemplifies for our team is equally matched by his selfless commitment to the community.”
Kerfoot has also gone out to help with youth hockey programs, along with other groups in the community. Those teams and organizations include the Ogden Lady Mustangs, Utah Olympic Oval Wildcats, Lady Grizzlies, Primary Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish, Granite Education Foundation, Utah Hockey Club Learn to Play, and Utah Hockey Club Youth.
In Utah’s inaugural season, it’s important for the team to have a presence in the community. Helping out with hockey programs and other groups around the city will help make potential lifelong fans. It also simply makes a person’s day to see an NHL player like Kerfoot care and help out in the league’s newest city.
“I am beyond grateful and very humbled to be named by our organization as its King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee,” said Kerfoot. “It is extremely important to both me and my wife Marissa to give back to Utah by helping grow the game and providing experiences and access to the sport, especially for young girls. It’s also rewarding to play for an organization that cares so deeply about its community, and supports so many community initiatives that are also important to me and my teammates.”
Kerfoot hopes to get the popularity of girls’ hockey up to the point where boys’ hockey is. He and Marissa recently had a daughter, which has definitely made him more passionate about the topic.
“I think that’s one of the great things about hockey is lots of guys around the league do things like that,” Kerfoot said. “We just wanted to make an effort to allow girls hockey to have the same opportunity that the boys have, and it’s been great seeing them come out. A lot of them are super excited to be out there, and hopefully, as youth hockey continues to grow, girls’ hockey is right there with the boys as well.”
Kerfoot’s passion for girls’ hockey, which is a part of the sport that can always use more support, makes him the perfect choice for Utah’s inaugural King Clancy nominee. His dedication and support for the cause all season long is exactly what exemplify a King Clancy Trophy winner.
Kerfoot joins a list of 31 other players representing each team in the NHL. The winner will be chosen by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and prior winners of the King Clancy Trophy. New York Islanders captain and forward Anders Lee won the award last season. The winner will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The winner can also elect that his team receive a grant from the NHL, up to $20,000, to help organize a special activity related to his humanitarian cause.
