NEWS AND MEDIA

Rbk Players Crosby, Brodeur, & Datsyuk Collect Hardware At The 2007 NHL Awards Show

14 Jun 2007

Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 15, 2007) - Rbk would like to congratulate Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings on their outstanding seasons which culminated in the reception of individual awards at the 2007 NHL Awards Show in Toronto, ON.

Sensational sophomore Sidney Crosby topped off an amazing year by taking home three of the most honorable trophies awarded in the National Hockey League: the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team, the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL as voted on by the players and the Art Ross Trophy as the top scorer.

Sidney became the youngest player in major pro sports history to win a scoring title, registering 120 points in 79 games played. Crosby's Penguins finished the season with a record of 47-24-11, resulting in a 47-point increase over last years totals, and clinching the team's first playoff berth since 2001. The impact that Sidney's had on Pittsburgh's success is quite clear as their record stands at 40-10-9 in games where he records a point, and the team went winless in the three games that Crosby missed due to injury.

Veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur received his third Vezina Trophy in the last four years as the NHL's top goaltender following another record breaking campaign. Brodeur registered a league high 48 wins this past season, eclipsing Bernie Parent's 33-year-old NHL record of 47 in the process. Martin also led the NHL in shutouts with (12) and finished third in both goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.922).

For the second consecutive season Pavel Datsyuk was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the player determined to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, combined with a high standard of playing ability. Datsyuk led the Detroit Red Wings in scoring for the second consecutive season matching a career high with 87 points.

About the Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season. The Hart Memorial Trophy was presented by the National Hockey League in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL in 1923 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens

About the Lester B. Pearson Trophy The Lester B. Pearson Award is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association. The award was first presented in 1970-71 by the NHLPA in honor of the late Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada. About the Art Ross Trophy The Art Ross Trophy is an annual award given to the player who leads the League in points at the end of the regular season. Arthur Howie Ross, former manager-coach of the Boston Bruins, presented the trophy to the National Hockey League in 1947.

About the Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy is an annual award given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs. Leo Danduarnd, Louis Letourneau, and Joe Cattarinich, former owners of the Montreal Canadiens presented the trophy to the National Hockey League in 1926-27 in memory of Georges Vezina, outstanding goalkeeper of the Canadiens, who collapsed during an NHL game Nov. 28, 1925, and died of tuberculosis a few months later.

About the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season. Lady Byng, wife of Canada's Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng trophy in 1925. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng's death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.