NEW YORK -- One of the most respected and prolific chroniclers of the game for nearly four decades, USA Today's national hockey writer Kevin Allen has been named the recipient of the 2013 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

The award, one of the most prestigious in hockey, was presented to the National Hockey League by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager and was a pioneer in the sport's development.

Allen will be honored during the annual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction celebration in Detroit on Dec. 2.

Allen has been USA Today Sports' national hockey writer since 1986. The Wayne, Mich., native has penned stories on about 600 NHL playoff games, 26 Stanley Cup Finals, seven Olympic Games, plus Canada Cups, World Cups and World Championships during his career.

He also has written 16 hockey books -- including Why is the Stanley Cup in Mario Lemieux's Pool and Star-Spangled Hockey, which chronicles the history of hockey in the United States. His latest book, written with former NHL player Darren McCarty, will be distributed this fall.

Allen's first NHL story was published in the late 1970s when he was still a student at Eastern Michigan University. After taking a job with the Port Huron (Mich.) Times Herald, he wrote stories about the Detroit Red Wings from 1982-83 to 1985-86.

Universally respected by hockey executives, coaches and players, he also is widely admired by his peers. He was elected president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in 2003 and has served in that capacity for the last 10 years.

Tickets to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner & Ceremony will be available online beginning Oct. 15.