Three stars (ice hockey)
Three best players per game, chosen by home-team media.
In ice hockey, the three stars are the three best players in a given game, with the first star being the top performer, similar to a player of the match award in other sports. These selections are made by media representatives of the home team, and they typically go to the highest point scorers or standout goaltenders from either side.
The tradition of naming three stars began through a collaboration between the Toronto Maple Leafs and an advertising agency, starting with a handshake agreement between Leafs owner Conn Smythe and Jack MacLaren. It was also intended to promote the sport's leading players. After the original sponsorship ended in 1976, the practice continued on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s flagship hockey program, *Hockey Night In Canada*. Since then, the custom has spread widely. Every professional team in North America, along with many radio and television broadcasts, awards three stars after each game, as do numerous amateur and collegiate leagues. The National Hockey League now names three stars for every regular-season and Stanley Cup playoff game, not just those on *HNIC*, with home-team media representatives making the picks. The league also selects a nightly set of three stars from all players across the league that night. In the 2007–08 season, the NHL replaced its weekly offensive and defensive player awards with "three stars of the week," and similarly replaced the monthly offensive and defensive player awards with "three stars of the month."
The NHL assigns points to its nightly three stars: 30 for the first star, 20 for the second, and 10 for the third, keeping a running tally for each player. Teams sometimes use these standings; for example, the Vancouver Canucks donate to a charity chosen by the player who earns the most points in a month. The Molson Cup is awarded to the top point-earner of the year for each Canadian team. Despite its popularity in North America, three stars are generally not awarded in international play, such as the Winter Olympics. The IIHF World Championships and World Junior Championships instead give out awards like "Best Player" per team per game or overall best player by position for the tournament.
Because three-star selections are a fun statistic and do not normally affect the game, there have been unusual cases. Occasionally, a single player receives all three stars.
- First star points
- 30
- Second star points
- 20
- Third star points
- 10
- First all three stars
- Maurice Richard, March 23, 1944
- First all three stars game
- Game 2 of 1944 semifinal, Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- First all three stars performance
- 5 goals in a 5–1 victory
- Non player star
- Pat Foley, April 14, 2022
Lore & Background
The tradition of the three stars was created in a collaboration between the Toronto Maple Leafs and an advertising agency, beginning with a handshake agreement between Conn Smythe, then-owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jack MacLaren. It was seen as a way to promote the game's best stars of the time. After the sponsorship ended in 1976, the tradition remained on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship hockey show, Hockey Night In Canada (HNIC).
The usage of three stars has since expanded greatly. All professional hockey teams (or radio/television broadcasts of those teams) in North America award three stars at the end of each game, and many amateur and collegiate leagues (or broadcasts of their games) do as well. The National Hockey League awards three stars during every game, in both the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs, and not just limited to those shown on HNIC. Media representatives of the home team make the selections. The NHL also awards a nightly set of three stars, which are the three best players out of all who played a game in the league on a given night. In the 2007–08 NHL season, the previous awards of 'offensive player of the week' and 'defensive player of the week' were replaced by the 'three stars of the week', while the similar awards of 'offensive player of the month' and 'defensive player of the month' were replaced by the 'three stars of the month'.
Despite its popularity in North America, three stars are generally not awarded during international play, such as at the Winter Olympic Games. The IIHF World Championships and World Junior Championships instead issue awards such as 'Best Player' for each team per game, or the overall best player per position over the course of the tournament.
Reader's Guide
The three stars system serves as a fun, post-game recognition that does not ordinarily affect any other aspect of the game. The NHL awards points to its nightly three stars: 30 points to the first star, 20 points to the second, and 10 to the third, keeping a running tally of each player's points. NHL teams may use these standings; for example, the Vancouver Canucks award a sum to a charity chosen by its player who earned the highest number of points that month. The Molson Cup is also awarded to the top point-earner of the year of each Canadian team.
Unusual selections have occurred when one player is awarded all three stars. Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens was given all three stars on March 23, 1944, after a 5-goal performance. Teemu Selänne of the Anaheim Ducks was awarded all three stars on April 13, 2014, in honor of his last regular-season game. Connor McDavid was awarded all stars after reaching 1000 career points on November 14, 2024. Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals was simultaneously awarded all three stars on April 6, 2025, for breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record, despite losing 4–1. On June 7, 2025, Trois-Rivières Lions goaltender Luke Cavallin was awarded all three stars in the championship-winning game of the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals. In even rarer instances, a non-player can be a star: Pat Foley was named the number one star of the Chicago Blackhawks' game on April 14, 2022, to honor his final game as the team's long-time broadcaster.
Did You Know?
- Maurice Richard was the first player to be awarded all three stars in a game, on March 23, 1944.
- The three stars tradition began with a handshake agreement between Conn Smythe and Jack MacLaren.
- Pat Foley, a broadcaster, was named the number one star of a Chicago Blackhawks game on April 14, 2022.
- Alexander Ovechkin was awarded all three stars on April 6, 2025, after breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record.
More in Ice Hockey Terminology, Part 2 1-24
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