Kevin Hayes Captures Gene Hart Memorial Award

Introduced during the 2006-07 season, the Gene Hart Memorial Award is selected by the members of the official Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club. Befitting its namesake, the award goes to the player who demonstrates the most "heart" during the course of the season.

This year's honoree is center Kevin Hayes. The 28-year-old brings a well of enthusiasm for coming to the rink. He has been a galvanizing force in the Flyers' locker room and a favorite both in the media and the community. He helps keep things loose with his running commentaries, and seemingly endless well of nicknames for his teammates.

In the high-pressure atmosphere of NHL hockey in Philadelphia, Hayes helps to keep things fun. In his first season in Philadelphia after signing a seven-year contract last summer, he has become an instant fan favorite among Flyers fans. While his popularity is largely driven by his on-ice productivity (including 23 goals overall, four shorthanded tallies and five game-winners), his gregarious and fun-loving personality also has a lot to do with it.

With the possible exception of Sean Couturier, no Flyers player is better than Hayes when it comes to protecting the puck once it is on his stick. He is very tough to budge from the puck along the boards. Hayes is also a slick puckhandler. Even when the Flyers are shorthanded, he fearlessly bobs and weaves and rarely loses possession.

In winning this year's Gene Hart Memorial, Hayes becomes the 13th player to capture the honor. Couturier is the only repeat winner in the award's history, winning in back-to-back seasons during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns.

GENE HART MEMORIAL AWARD HISTORY

2006-07 Sami Kapanen
2007-08 Mike Richards
2008-09 Scott Hartnell
2009-10 Ian Laperriere
2010-11 Claude Giroux
2011-12 Wayne Simmonds
2012-13 Zac Rinaldo
2013-14 Steve Mason
2014-15 Jakub Voracek
2015-16 Shayne Gostisbehere
2016-17 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
2017-18 Sean Couturier
2018-19 Sean Couturier
2019-20 Kevin Hayes