BACKLUND NAMED KING CLANCY NOMINEE

The Calgary Flames are proud to announce Mikael Backlund as the club's nominee for the 2022-23 King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

Backlund has been a key member of both the Flames and the City of Calgary since entering the NHL in the 2008-09 season. He has spent his career focusing on initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of individuals living with ALS, providing opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities and childhood cancer to attend Flames games in a safe space, and keeping children in foster care with their beloved pets.

Among his impressive community engagements is his dedication to the ALS Society of Alberta, in honour of his wife Frida, whose mom passed away from ALS when Frida was just 19 years old. Backlund has been personally responsible for raising over $400,000 for the non-profit, which helps fund their programs to assist those living with ALS at every stage of the disease. He also invites families to a home game each month for an opportunity to make memories an important motto for Backlund, and those living with ALS. Each game also includes a meet-and-greet with Backlund after the game.

"ALS is an underfunded and under-represented disease as its sufferers often disappear to their homes," said Flames' Assistant General Manager Chris Snow, who is 4 years into his own battle with ALS. "Mikael and Frida are the type of champions essential to shining a light on this disease. The awareness they create, the funds they raise, and the personal connections they make give hope and a better quality of life to many people in our province living with ALS."

Additionally, as an ambassador for both Kids Cancer Care and Special Olympics Calgary, he provides the opportunity for kids and families facing childhood cancer, and individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to spend an evening out together at a Flames game. Every game includes a special meet-and-greet with Backlund after the game. To date, he has invited over 500 people to Flames games as part of these two programs.

Backlund recently expanded his efforts in the community with the creation of a brand-new program called Lily's Legacy in partnership with Parachutes for Pets. Lily's Legacy is a first of its kind program which helps keep children in foster care with their beloved pets. Since the inception of the program in 2021, Backlund has been a part of keeping over 90 pets with their young owners and raising $125,000 for the program.

His efforts in the community have also been acknowledged on numerous occasions by the Flames organization. He is a past receipt of both the J.R. "Bud" McCaig Award and the Ralph & Sonia Scurfield Humanitarian Award. The McCaig is given to the Flames player who best exemplifies Mr. McCaig's enduring virtues of respect, courtesy, and compassion for all individuals he encountered both in his professional and everyday life. The Scurfield Humanitarian award is granted to the Flames player who best exemplifies perseverance, determination, and leadership on the ice, combined with dedication to community service off the ice.

"I've always been inspired by people who help others that struggle. I am aware that I have been given the opportunity to live a privileged life and know that a small gesture from me can mean the world to other people. Giving back to the community here in Calgary is so important, as they not only take care of me but also my family and I want to show my gratitude for that," Backlund said. "The ALS Society of Alberta, Kids Cancer Care, Special Olympics, and Parachutes for Pets are organizations who care deeply about their people and their missions, and I am honoured to be a part of their work. I'm so proud to be able to help support all four of these organizations as well as the Calgary Flames Foundation."

The three finalists for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy will be announced at a later date by the National Hockey League.