Goaltender Jonathan Bernier of the Kings was nominated Monday for the 2013 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Los Angeles chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The Masterton Trophy is awarded by the PHWA annually to the player who exhibits the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. Masterton was a player for the Minnesota North Stars before he died Jan. 15, 1968 as a result of an on-ice injury.
Bernier did not play in the Kings’ playoff run last season because of Jonathan Quick’s excellence and durability, but Bernier has been a valuable member of the team this season. With Quick recovering from back surgery and working to regain his old form, Bernier compiled numbers that rank him among the NHL leaders.
Through the games of April 21, Bernier was 9-2-1 in 13 games with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage, putting him among the league leaders in both categories. He also had one shutout. In addition, he is always available to the media for interviews.
Bernier, 24, missed the Kings’ Stanley Cup celebration visit to the White House to be with his family following the death of his beloved grandmother in March.
Bernier won the Kings’ Community Service Award for his charitable work last season. He donated four lower-level tickets to each game last season to patients from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and their families, and he met with each patient after games as part of a program called “Bernie’s Angels.” During the playoffs he conducted an essay contest to give away goalie gear to an aspiring goaltender. He helped select the winner and three runners-up and invited them to a goalie clinic.
