Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the captain of the Arizona Coyotes, has been nominated for the 2018/19 season King Clancy Award.
The Arizona Coyotes nomination for the King Clancy Trophy has been unveiled as Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the team’s sole captain.
The award, which is given to the player deemed to have shown the best leadership qualities, both on and off the ice, would be a fitting end to a largely positive season for the Coyotes captain.
And Ekman-Larsson is a very deserving candidate for the award, having guided the Coyotes through tough times while also representing the team admirably in the community.
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In his first season as the team’s primary captain, the first player to wear the coveted ‘C’ since Shane Doan retired in 2017, Ekman-Larsson finished second in total points on the team with 44 and led all Coyotes defencemen with 14 goals.
His play on the ice helped the Arizona Coyotes stake a legitimate claim to a wildcard spot before falling at the final hurdle – an impressive accomplishment considering the number of injuries the team suffered.
Ekman-Larsson was one of those players that suffered an injury during the season, but he only missed one game and was able to provide strong support and leadership to a defensive corps that saw Jakob Chychrun and Jason Demers miss significant time.
But it’s not just his performances during games that has OEL nominated for the King Clancy Trophy, with the 27-year-old being an active contributor to the community around the state of Arizona.
Prior to the 2018/19 season began, Ekman-Larsson donated $125,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (BGGS), an organisation offering a variety of after-school programs to children, based around fitness and arts.
This kind of generosity and his regular presence at community events is a testament to the kind of man the Arizona Coyotes captain is and shows why he is fully deserving of the nomination for this particular end of season award.
What do you think Coyotes fans? Are you pleased to see the team’s captain receiving this nomination? Do you think he has a legitimate chance at winning? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!