Patrice Bergeron Receives 2021 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award

BOSTON - The National Hockey League announced today, June 22, that Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron has been given the 2021 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, presented to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities on and off the ice and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.

In January of 2021, Bergeron was named the 20th captain of the Boston Bruins.
2021 marked Bergeron's 17th NHL season, all with the Bruins. The L'Ancienne Lorette, Quebec native ranks third in Bruins history in games played (1,143) and game-winning goals (70), fourth in points (917) and fifth in goals (375) and assists (542). The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centerman also ranks second in Bruins history in playoff games played (160), tied for second in goals (46), and third in playoff points (120) and playoff assists (74).
Bergeron has been nominated for the Selke Award, given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game, for 10 consecutive seasons. Bergeron has won the award in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Bergeron's four Selke awards are tied with Hall of Fame forward Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens for most all-time.
Bergeron has also been a key leader for the Bruins off the ice since entering the league in 2003 as an 18-year-old.
In 2006, Bergeron founded the "Patrice's Pal's" program to fund and provide the opportunity for young hockey fans from hospitals and children's organizations in Boston to attend Bruins games. Each child watches the game from a luxury suite and is provided dinner, beverages, and a goodie bag with Bruins gifts, and has the opportunity to meet Patrice personally for photographs and autographs. Patrice's Pals guests have been from Tufts Children's Hospital, SCORE Boston Youth Hockey (which provides inner-city youth the opportunity to participate in hockey), Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boys and Girls Clubs, and others.
In 2008, Bergeron founded the Gagné-Bergeron Pro-Am alongside fellow NHLer Simon Gagné. Players from around the NHL join Bergeron and Gagné in L'Ancienne-Lorrette, Quebec to play in the Pro-Am that raises funds for children in hospitals around Quebec City. In 2020, the Pro-Am raised over $129,000.
In 2010, Bergeron took the mantle of the Bruins' annual Holiday Toy Shopping event. The tradition was originally started by Ray Bourque and has continued under the guidance of a leader of the team ever since. Each Bruins player donates money, which is matched by the Boston Bruins Foundation to fund the purchase of toys for young hospital patients. The toys are delivered to over 600 children at local hospitals who aren't able to spend the holidays at home.
Bergeron has spearheaded the Bruins annual Holiday Hospital visits for years by presenting a theme for each visit, dressing up in character, and including his team in visits to children at local hospitals. Past themes have included Toy Story, Halloween, and other holidays, with this past year's theme being Sesame Street. Due to COVID, Patrice dressed up as Elmo and the entire team participated in virtual Zooms to continue visiting with the children. Patrice also initiated the purchase of "Ro-Bear," a virtual robot that could take the place of players for in-person visits, which allowed team members to interact with patients remotely.
In 2013, Bergeron began hosting the Bruins annual Cuts for a Cause event. At the event, auction winners shaved the heads of Bruins players to show their support and raise money for the Boston Bruins Foundation and Tufts Children's Hospital by shaving their heads. The event was started by Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward, and later hosted by forward Shawn Thornton before Bergeron assumed the role. The 10th annual Cuts for a Cause in 2017 raised over $100,000. Since the inception of the event in 2007, the event raised over $700,000.
In 2018, Bergeron teamed with the Boston Bruins Foundation and 98.5 The Sports Hub to host the inaugural Pucks and Paddles event. At the event, auction winners and children's hospital patients could play ping pong alongside Bruins players, before the players participated in a singles tournament. The annual event continued in 2019 and 2020, and in three years has raised a total of $375,000 to benefit Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Children Hospital and the Boston Bruins Foundation.
Also in 2018, Bergeron participated in the dedication of the Willie O'Ree Community Rink. The street hockey rink was built with the intent of fostering growth in youth hockey and providing an easily accessible resource to young players in the community. Patrice was among the first to visit the rink and participate in its dedication to Willie O'Ree, where he interacted with young players at the rink. Patrice also helped present the Boston Bruins/Boston Bruins Foundation $250,000 donation check to the City of Boston for refurbishing street hockey rinks across the city.
In June of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Bergeron and his family donated a total of $50,000 ($25,000 each to NAACP Boston and the Centre Multiethnique de Quebec) and released a statement on activism and allyship.
In 2013, Bergeron was named the winner of the 2013 King Clancy Trophy. The King Clancy Trophy is awarded annually to an NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities both on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. Bergeron was also nominated for the award in 2020.
In 2014, Bergeron was named the winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award, recognizing the NHL player who applies the core values of hockey -- commitment, perseverance and teamwork -- to enrich the lives of people in his community.
Bergeron won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 against the Vancouver Canucks. He played in 23 playoff games in 2011, recording six goals, 14 assists and 20 points. Bergeron also scored the game-winning goal in Game 7.
Bergeron made his Olympic debut in Vancouver at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he won gold with Team Canada. Bergeron would go on to win a second straight gold for Team Canada in Sochi at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Bergeron first represented Team Canada at the 2004 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal at the age 18. He would go on to win gold with Team Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, making him the first player to win world junior gold after winning the men's world gold. Bergeron led the 2005 World Juniors in scoring with five goals and eight assists and was named tournament MVP. Bergeron also represented Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Championship, as well as the 2012 Spengler Cup where Canada won gold during the NHL lockout. He was a member of Team Canada that won gold at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In total, Bergeron has won five gold medals representing Team Canada. Bergeron was named to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Bergeron was originally selected by the Bruins in the second round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.