LAS VEGAS, NV - The NHL announced today that Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has been named the winner of the 2011-12 Frank J. Selke Trophy. The Selke Trophy is awarded annually "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." The winner was announced at the 2012 NHL Awards at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The other finalists for the award were St. Louis' David Backes and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, who had previously won three straight Selke Trophies from 2008-2010.

This is Bergeron's first Selke Trophy, after being nominated for the first time in his eight-year NHL career. He becomes the first Bruin to win the award since Steve Kasper in 1982. The 26-year-old led the NHL in plus-minus this season with +36 and won the most faceoffs in the NHL with 973. Bergeron's faceoff win percentage of 59.3% was second best in the NHL among players who took at least 500 puck drops, trailing only Chicago's Jonathan Toews by .1% (59.4%).

The Ancienne-Lorette, QC native led the Bruins with 42 assists this regular season and finished second on the team in points with 64. He led all B's forwards in time on ice (18:34) and shorthanded time on ice per game (1:48). His 22 goals ranked fifth on the squad and he tied a career high by playing in 81 games. In Boston's seven-game Eastern Conference quarterfinals series against the Washington Capitals in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bergeron recorded two assists and eight penalty minutes, along with 18 shots on goal.

The B's alternate captain adds the Selke Trophy to his accolades, after becoming just the 25th member of the International Ice Hockey Federation's Triple Gold Club last June, when he hoisted the Stanley Cup, recording six goals and 14 assists for 20 points and +15 en route to the Bruins' first Cup win since 1972. Bergeron previously won the gold medal with Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2005 World Championship. He also helped Canada earn gold at the 2004 World Junior Championship.

Selected by the Bruins in the second round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Bergeron made the B's NHL roster in his draft year as an 18-year-old. In his eight-year NHL career, the 6'2”, 194-pound forward has recorded 143 goals and 258 assists for 401 points in 537 games, registering a +46 in that span. He has worn the 'A' since the 2005-06 season, when he also earned the team's 7th Player Award, an annual award given to the Bruin whose performance exceeds the expectations of Bruins fans during the season.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season. The trophy was first awarded at the end of the 1977–78 NHL season. It was named after Frank J. Selke, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.