and a big "thank"/"f" you to ESPN for delaying it for a half hour....for kickboxing.

NHL Awards Winners

Winners of the 2003-2004 NHL awards, presented Thursday night at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto (voting is by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, except Vezina which is awarded by NHL general managers, and Adams which is determined by a poll of NHL Broadcasters' Association members): Hart Memorial Trophy, MVP - Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Vezina Trophy, goaltender - Martin Brodeur, New Jersey James Norris Memorial Trophy, defenseman - Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Calder Memorial Trophy, rookie - Andrew Raycroft, Boston Frank J. Selke Trophy, defensive forward - Kris Draper, Detroit Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, most gentlemanly - Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Jack Adams Award, coach - John Tortorella, Tampa Bay King Clancy Trophy, humanitarian contribution to hockey - Jarome Iginla, Calgary Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, perserverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey - Bryan Berard, Chicago --- Awards Based on Regular-Season Statistics Art Ross Trophy, points scoring leader - Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Maurice Richard Trophy, goal-scoring leader - Rick Nash, Columbus, Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta, and Jarome Iginla, Calgary, 41 goals William M. Jennings Trophy, goalies with fewest goals against, minimum 25 games - Martin Brodeur, New Jersey --- Award Voted on by NHL Players' Association Lester B. Pearson Award, outstanding player - Martin St. Louis, Tampa

7/11/01-1/23/03.
"This is America! And in America, if something sucks, you're supposed to be able to get your money back."-Stan Marsh
"Say what again! Say what again! I dare ya. I double dare ya mutha*****! Say what one more goddamn time!"-from "Pulp Fiction"
I'm the Weeping Willow,and I approve of this post.

You know, we're lucky that ESPN even covers this at all. Does the casual sports fan know a damn thing about any of these awards, the presenters, or little-known musical acts? I'd bet not. (They don't know anything about kickboxing either, but it probably costs pennies to sponsor)

I think I'm one of the few who believes hockey gets more than its fair share of national media coverage, if public interest is any gauge.

All-Star/All-Rookie teams, btw...

1st team

Naslund-Sakic-St.Louis
Chara-Neidermayer
Brodeur

2nd team

Kovalchuk-Sundin-Iginla
Pronger-McCabe
Luongo

All-Rookie Team

Malone-Ryder-Hunter
Liles-Pitkanen
Raycroft

....were definitely made BEFORE the playoffs...a good thing for Brodeur....

7/11/01-1/23/03.
"This is America! And in America, if something sucks, you're supposed to be able to get your money back."-Stan Marsh
"Say what again! Say what again! I dare ya. I double dare ya mutha*****! Say what one more goddamn time!"-from "Pulp Fiction"
I'm the Weeping Willow,and I approve of this post.