Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler Nominated as Finalist for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Cam Fowler has been selected as the Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

Every season, each club nominates one of their players for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. This award is given to, as defined by the NHL, “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made noteworthy humanitarian contributions in his community.” The Anaheim Ducks nominated veteran defenseman, Cam  Fowler, as their 2018-19 King Clancy Memorial Trophy finalist.

Three finalists will be announced on April 23rd, and the winner will be chosen by a group of NHL senior executives. In order to determine who deserves this award above the other 30 nominees, the NHL executives will apply the following criteria to each player: positive impact in their community, investment of their time and resources, commitment to a particular cause or community, commitment to the league’s community initiatives, creativity of programming, and use of influence.

Cam in the Community

Over the past few years, hockey has grown significantly in Southern California. With the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings inspiring generation after generation, it is no surprise that the sport has grown so popular. However, there is one significant downside to hockey. Learning to play isn’t as simple as going down to your local sporting goods store and picking out a football or basketball. The equipment is expensive, and as kids grow, so do the expenses.

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The other issue with hockey is that it is played on ice. While a child might be able to shoot pucks at their garage door, they cannot learn how to skate on concrete. Ice time is a necessity when learning how to play the wonderful sport of hockey. This increases the expenses even more, and a lot of kids don’t have the opportunity to learn how to play due to their financial needs.

The Anaheim Ducks have been a forerunner in teaching kids how to play hockey at a limited expense. However, this season, Cam Fowler went one step further and, partnered with Find Your Grind, launched C4Kids. Fowler’s motivation, in addition to the inspiration and encouragement from his fiance, was simple:

"“I felt maybe I wasn’t as involved in the community as I could have been, and the kids playing hockey means a lot to me.” –Cam Fowler"

His motivation was not selfish, he had nothing to gain from starting C4Kids. Nevertheless, Fowler knew that he had nothing to lose. Growing up in the hockey community, Fowler knows better than anyone how much hockey inspires growth and learning in the lives of children. Through this organization, children are provided with the opportunity to learn about and play the sport they love or discover a passion for hockey they never knew they had. Financial assistance is offered in order that no child gets left behind.

An Inspiration on and off the Ice

Not only does Fowler lead by example off the ice, he leads by example on the ice. He is an on-ice mediator and inspiration to his teammates. CF4 is loyal to his team, pledging his fidelity to the Anaheim Ducks for basically what will be the rest of his career. He showcases integrity, inspiring reliance and trust in his teammates as well as other players.

Not only does he display integrity, but he exudes confidence. Due to his on-ice influence, his teammates likely follow suit and mimic his attitude. He never dwells on the negative, instead choosing to radiate optimism. Most importantly, he is humble. He does not esteem himself as higher than anyone else on his team and is willing to admit his mistakes and learn from them. We saw a perfect example of that near the end of the 2018-19 season.

While he did struggle tremendously this season, to the point where trade rumors reared their ugly heads, his difficulties on the ice did not affect his character. He remained the calm, cool, and, for the most part, confident Cam Fowler we have come to know and love over the past 9 seasons.

Becoming more involved in the community was something that was inevitable, that’s just the kind of person who Cam Fowler is. Nevertheless, the fact that his focus is solely on the children in his community, who are the future, should be an inspiration to each and every one of us. Hopefully, players from other organizations will take notes and follow his example; to inspire the children in their community to love one of the best sports known to man.

As previously mentioned, the three finalists will be announced on April 23rd. Do you believe that Cam Fowler should be named among them? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!