Wild’s Marcus Foligno Wins 2025-26 King Clancy Memorial Trophy

The Minnesota Wild have their first NHL award winner of the season, and that is Marcus Foligno, who was the recipient of the 2025-26 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Thursday morning, June 4.

This award goes to the player who is one, a leader on and off the ice. Foligno definitely fits that description, but the bigger, second part is where he made an even bigger difference, and that was helping out his community with a significant humanitarian contribution. 

While Foligno was originally nominated by his team, he was selected to win by a committee of former winners of the award, as well as the NHL Player Foundation Award, and, of course, Commissioner Gary Bettman. 

Marcus’ brother Nick won this award earlier in his career, and it made perfect sense that younger brother, Marcus, would follow in his footsteps as they’ve both done tremendous work for breast cancer research in honor of their late mother, Janis Foligno, who passed from breast cancer in 2009.

According to NHL.com, Marcus was surprised with the award as he was touring a hospital in Minneapolis, which was only fitting for how much he’s done to help the community fund research for breast cancer. Most who follow the NHL probably heard about the Foligno Face-Off, which was how the brothers chose to raise money this season, which was part of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer.

Nick was with the Chicago Blackhawks when they started, and it was meant to be an actual competition when the Wild and Blackhawks met this season, with each brother asking for donations from their respective fanbases to try to raise more money than the other. When Nick was traded to the Wild, they kept it going, but as a team effort, and that effort raised over $200,000 to help fund breast cancer research. 

In winning this award, Marcus also won $25,000, which he can choose which charity or charities he wants to donate the money to. Foligno may also be able to direct a special event related to his cause with a grant of up to $20,000 from the NHL that the Wild are now eligible for. 

After seeing all of the work Marcus has done this season and in prior seasons to help fund research for those with breast cancer, it’s safe to say he earned this award and hopefully will be able to continue raising money for a possible cure and help even more people.