Devils’ Brian Boyle Awarded Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

LAS VEGAS, NV -- The 2017-18 NHL season proved to be the toughest test of New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle's career, and he came out on top while inspiring the entire hockey community in the process through his courageous battle against a chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of bone cancer. That perseverance was on full display on Wednesday evening as he received the Bill Masterton Trophy at the 2018 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

"This is never a situation you want to be in, but with the support of the people around me winning this award is going to hold a special place in my heart," Boyle explained during his emotional acceptance speech at the NHL Awards before revealing his son was also going through some health issues of his own. "This has certainly been an emotional year (for me and my family). This means the world to us."

Despite being diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in training camp in September, Boyle received treatment for the bone marrow cancer he was suffering from and made his ceremonious return to the team on November 1. He scored 10 goals over his first 25 games, including his emotional goal on Hockey Fights Cancer Night in the team's 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Boyle's play in the first-half of the season earned him a selection to his first-ever NHL All-Star Game.

His success this season, Boyle says, was fueled by the support that he received from his family, the Devils organization, players across the league, and most of all, his son, who has endured his own health issues this year.

Boyle has been a voice of inspiration for cancer survivors across the country. In March, he participated in the Nashville Predators' ceremonial pre-game puck drop on their Hockey Fights Cancer Night with six-year-old cancer survivor Kendall James, who is currently in remission from a rare form of cancer.

Boyle became the first Devils player to win the award since 2000 when defenseman Ken Daneyko received the honor for overcoming alcoholism.

For each of the last 50 years, the trophy has been awarded to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." A $2,500 grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the Masterton Trophy winner.

Other finalists for this year’s honor were Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers and Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes.