NEW YORK, NY -- Defenceman Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames, forward Matt Martin of the New York Islanders and defenceman P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadiens are the three finalists for the 2015-16 NHL Foundation Player Award, which is presented to “an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community,” the National Hockey League announced today.

NHL clubs submitted nominations for the NHL Foundation Player Award and the finalists were selected by a judging panel. The NHL Foundation will present $25,000 to the chosen charitable organization of this year’s recipient. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2016 NHL Awards – hosted by actor Will Arnett – at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Following are the finalists for the NHL Foundation Player Award, in alphabetical order:

Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames

Giordano’s leadership and dedication on the ice only are paralleled by his various initiatives away from the rink. For the past two seasons, Giordano and his wife have partnered with the Calgary Board of Education to create a unique community program called Team Giordano – which provides resources to four low-income Calgary schools. Funding from Team Giordano supports the purchase of computers, journals and other school supplies as well as floor hockey equipment. Students in the program are encouraged to achieve their goals using the “5 G’s” Giordano believes are the keys to success. Since its inception, Team Giordano has donated $200,000 to its four schools, impacting the lives of 1,400 students.

Matt Martin, New York Islanders

Although Martin is notorious for his hits on the ice, his biggest impact can be seen through his work and reputation in the community. For the past six years, Martin has partnered with various organizations focused on children and the military. Last summer, he created the Matt Martin Foundation in order to continue raising awareness and funding for the causes closest to his heart. Those include, among others, the NYPD Widows’ and Children’s Fund, the Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, ACDS, Defending the Blue Line and the Islanders Children’s Foundation. The inaugural year of the Matt Martin Foundation raised more than $75,000 for these charities.

P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens

Subban, one of the most prolific defencemen in the NHL, made perhaps his biggest headlines last September with his $10-million pledge over a seven-year period to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation (MCHF). Committed to leaving a legacy both on the ice and in the community, Subban chose to focus his philanthropic efforts on helping sick children as well as their families. That has resulted in more than $800,000 of fundraising for MCHF through several activities and the support of the P.K. Subban Foundation during the 2015-16 season. Subban, using his gregarious personality and far-reaching social media presence, has employed various initiatives to engage the community and raise awareness about those causes nearest to him.

History

NHL players have a longstanding tradition of supporting charities and other important causes in their communities. NHL member clubs are constant in their quest to help local schools, hospitals and charitable organizations. Clubs submit nominations for the NHL Foundation Player Award and the finalists are selected by a judging panel. This award was first presented in 1998.

Announcement Schedule

The three finalists for NHL Trophies are being announced by NBC Sports in the United States and Sportsnet/TVA Sports in Canada during pregame programming for the Stanley Cup Playoffs through Saturday, May 7. The series of announcements continues on Wednesday, May 3, when the three finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award will be unveiled.

A full lineup of presenters and entertainment for the 2016 NHL Awards – as well as information on broadcasting, tickets, and hospitality and travel packages through PrimeSport – will be announced at a future date. In addition, fans can tweet about the event using the official hashtag #NHLAwards.