Bellemare is Flyers' Masterton Trophy nominee
Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was named the Flyers' Masterton Trophy nominee Tuesday by the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was named the Flyers' Masterton Trophy nominee Tuesday by the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The Masterton is presented each year by the NHL to the player who "best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication." Each team has one nominee.
Past winners from the Flyers: Bobby Clarke, Tim Kerr, and Ian Laperriere.
"You don't work to try to get those kind of rewards," Bellemare said Tuesday before the game against Ottawa at the Wells Fargo Center. You work "to be as helpful to the team in any way possible. . . . But it sure is nice when somebody notices the work you're doing."
It has been a whirlwind month for Bellemare, who was named an alternate captain shortly after Mark Streit was traded. The day before he was given the "A," Bellemare signed a two-year contract extension for a total of $2.9 million.
Bellemare, 32, who grew up in France, did not reach the NHL until he was 29 and is the definition of perseverance.
"It wasn't the usual type of NHL journey," said Bellemare, who starred in Sweden before signing with the Flyers as a free agent in 2014. "But it doesn't feel like you are working when you are enjoying what you are doing. . . . I don't consider it perseverance what I'm doing. I mean, I'm playing hockey. I work my whole life for it, and that late [in his career], I get to the best league in the world. It's not perseverance to come every morning to do your job, do your routine, and try to be ready for practice. It's been only fun, quite frankly."
Right winger Wayne Simmonds said Bellemare was a deserving nominee.
"When you talk about Belly, the first thing is his work ethic," Simmonds said. "He's a complete professional. He battled his way into this league, and he continues every day to be one of the hardest workers on the ice."
"He's a great person; he's a great teammate and leader," coach Dave Hakstol said. "Night in and night out, he leaves everything he has on the ice, so I think it's real fitting."
Breakaways
Nick Cousins, who wasn't on the four-game road trip because of an apparent concussion, took part in the morning skate but is not ready to return to action. . . . Lehigh Valley, the Flyers' top minor-league affiliate, leads the AHL with 238 goals and is averaging 3.55 goals per game. The Flyers entered Tuesday averaging 2.55 goals per game, tied with Ottawa for 21st in the NHL. . . . Union center Mike Vecchione, a free agent who finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer, has reportedly narrowed down his choices to the Flyers, Rangers, Boston, Tampa Bay, and Detroit.