Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
The NHL's award for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League 'player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.' The trophy has been awarded 90 times to 53 different players since it was first awarded in 1925. The original trophy was donated to the league by Lady Byng of Vimy, then–viceregal consort of Canada.
Quick Facts
- Primary criteria
- Sportsmanship and Gentlemanly Conduct combined with High Playing Ability
- First winner
- Frank Nighbor (Ottawa Senators, 1925)
- Most wins
- Frank Boucher, 7 (New York Rangers)
- Donated by
- Lady Byng of Vimy
Lore & Background
The trophy is named in honour of Marie Evelyn Moreton (Lady Byng), wife of the Viscount Byng of Vimy, who commanded Canadian forces at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and who was Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. Lady Byng, an avid hockey fan, decided to donate the trophy to the NHL in 1924–25. Lady Byng decided the trophy's first winner would be Frank Nighbor of the original Ottawa Senators. Late in the season, she invited Nighbor to Rideau Hall, showed him the trophy, and asked him if the NHL would accept it as an award for its most gentlemanly player.
When Nighbor said he thought it would, Lady Byng, much to Nighbor's surprise, awarded him the trophy. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times within eight years, Lady Byng was so impressed that she gave him the original trophy to keep. She then donated a second trophy in 1935–36. When Lady Byng died in 1949, the NHL presented another trophy and changed the official name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. In 1962, the original trophy was destroyed in a fire at Boucher's home.
Reader's Guide
The voting is conducted at the end of the regular season by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and each individual voter ranks their top five candidates on a 10–7–5–3–1 points system. Three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Did You Know?
- Wayne Gretzky won the trophy five times, Red Kelly and Pavel Datsyuk four times each.
- Bill Quackenbush, Jaccob Slavin, Red Kelly, and Brian Campbell are the only defensemen to have won the award.
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