Lester Patrick Award Recipients Honored

from Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com, Earlier this year, hockey executive Jimmy Devellano, New York Rangers and Team USA goalie Mike Richter and six-time Stanley Cup winner Mark Messier were selected to receive the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. On Wednesday night, the trio of hockey luminaries showed why they are considered American hockey treasures—despite the fact that both Messier and Devellano were born in Canada. During the course of a 75-minute roundtable—hosted by Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen and with Lester Patrick’s grandchildren, Craig and Dick Patrick looking on from the audience—Devellano, Richter and Messier spoke eloquently about their love of the game, as well as many of the issues unique to the growing of the sport in America. continued