Scott Laughton enjoyed the best season of his career on the ice but his efforts off the ice were equally impressive.
The NHL recognized this by making Laughton this year’s nominee from the Flyers for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
The trophy is awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
“It’s a huge honor for myself to be very involved in the community where I was drafted, grown up, and now live,” said Laughton. “A lot of credit goes to my wife, Chloe, who’s such a big part of this.
“The nomination is something that means a lot to me and I’m very grateful because Philadelphia has given me so much and I want to always give back. Giving back, being a part of this community and to be a voice for various groups and organizations, I take great pride in it, and I believe is part of our responsibility.”
Interim general manager Daniel Briere had words of praise for the 28-year-old Laughton.
“It’s well deserved to see Scott be named our Flyers nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy,” said Briere. “I was really happy with how Scott played this season and how he emerged as a leader in the locker room, both on and off the ice, especially leading the way for our younger group of guys. His dedication to the city of Philadelphia and surrounding communities is unmatched and an honor to watch him connect with so many of our great fans.”
Laughton recently completed his 10th NHL season, all with the Flyers, and has gone above and beyond to lead the team by example both on and off the ice. Not only has he been involved with numerous team and League community initiatives, but he has created his own programming to support others.
According to a Flyers’ press release, prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Laughton was an instrumental leader in recruiting the entire roster to get involved when the Flyers launched the organization’s first-ever Player Community Match program which paired each player with a local community or charitable initiative.
During the season, Laughton continued his commitment to inclusivity through LGBTQ+ programming as he served as the Flyers’ Hockey is For Everyone ambassador and the NHL’s You Can Play ambassador. Alongside teammate, James van Riemsdyk, they continued their Flyers Pride Initiative which saw more than 100 individuals from the LGBTQ+ community at 20 Flyers home games.
He also committed to being an official ambassador for the newly launched Alphabet SportsCollective (a Canada-based, queer-led non-profit organization). Laughton also continued his heavy involvement with Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia by becoming a RMHC Companion, donating to the Guest Chef Program, and having guests from his wedding provide donations to RMHC Philly for its Adopt-A-Room sponsorship, in lieu of gifts.
Laughton’s other in-kind and monetary donations this season included support for cancer treatments, funeral services, Salvation Army’s Holiday Toy Drive, Military USO Skate at the Flyers Training Center and contributing to several Amazon wish lists of teachers in the Philadelphia area.
On the ice, Laughton was the only player with a letter on his sweater, serving as an assistant captain for most of the season. He set career highs in goals (18), power-play goals (5), shorthanded goals (3), assists (25), power-play assists (4), shorthanded assists (4), points (43), power-play points (9), shorthanded points (7) and shots (170) this season.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominees are selected by their respective NHL teams. The winner will be chosen by a committee of senior NHL executives led by Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. The selection committee will apply the following criteria in determining the finalists and winner:
* Clear and measurable positive impact on the community
* Investment of time and resources
* Commitment to a particular cause or community
* Commitment to the League’s community initiatives
* Creativity of programming
* Use of influence; engagement of others
The three finalists for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy will be revealed later this month and the winner will be unveiled at the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26.
The first-place finisher will receive a $25,000 donation from the NHL Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The two runners-up each will receive a $5,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy was presented in 1988 by the NHL’s Board of Governors in honor of Frank “King” Clancy, a beloved figure in the League for decades as a player, referee, coach, manager and goodwill ambassador. A three-time Stanley Cup Champion and 1958 inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Clancy was voted as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League’s Centennial Celebration in 2017.
