The Dallas Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) announced today that Rich Peverley has been selected as its nominee for the 2013-14 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Peverley, 31, was never drafted into the NHL and began his hockey career at the collegiate level for St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., earning his degree in economics while playing all four years for the school.

Upon graduation, Peverley turned pro, skating for various ECHL and AHL hockey clubs, including the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. Grabbing the attention of the Predators organization with successful professional hockey seasons, he was signed to his first NHL contract on Jan. 17, 2007. He would go on to make his NHL debut on March 4, 2007 and finished his first partial NHL season in 2006-07 with 13 games played.

After shuffling around Nashville and their system for parts of three seasons, Peverley was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 10, 2009. With the Thrashers, he posted a career-high 55 points (22-33=55) in 2009-10, and for the first time in his career, represented Canada in international competition at the World Championships at the conclusion of the NHL season.

On Feb. 18, 2011, he was traded to the Boston Bruins, where he would go on to be an integral member of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion team, posting 12 points (4-8=12) in 25 games during the playoff run.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward was traded to Dallas on July 4, 2013 and posted 30 points (7-23=30) in 62 games this season. On March 10, 2014, Peverley collapsed on the Stars bench after suffering a cardiac episode. He was revived at the scene by medical personnel and underwent season-ending heart surgery eight days later. He currently is rehabbing and a decision has not been made on resuming his career.

Peverley has shown a dedication to hockey throughout his career, as well as perseverance and sportsmanship.

ABOUT THE MASTERTON TROPHY

The Masterton Trophy winner is selected from a poll of the 30 chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season and a grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the winner.

The PHWA first presented the Masterton Trophy in 1968 to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton is the only NHL player to die from injuries sustained in a game. He passed away on Jan. 15, 1968.