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FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) has named forward Roope Hintz as the Stars nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2020-21 season. The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Hintz has been a perpetual game-time decision for the Dallas Stars for the majority of the 2020-21 season while dealing with a lower-body injury that has limited his ability to even practice or take part in morning skates, let alone see game action on a consistent basis. Despite his ailment, Hintz has been of the Stars best forwards on a nightly basis when he's able to play, scoring at better than a point-per-game pace at the time of nominations.

The Franchise: Hintz's rise to blossoming NHL stardom

Hintz has persevered in spite of enduring an injury for most of the campaign, posting career numbers in an already shortened season. The native of Tampere, Finland ranks first on the Stars with a career-high 28 assists in 2020-21, while he ranks third on Dallas with 15 goals and shares second with a career-high 43 points (15-28=43) in 41 games. Hintz is also tied for 19th in the NHL and ranks second on the team with 18 power play points (6-12=18) and ranks second on the Stars with six power play goals, marking new career highs in both categories. Additionally, the forward shares third on the Stars with a +13 plus/minus rating and ranks second among club forwards and sixth among all Dallas skaters with 18:14 time on ice per game, establishing new career highs in each.
About the Masterton Trophy
The Masterton Trophy winner is selected from a poll of the 31 chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season and a grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the winner.
The PHWA first presented the Masterton Trophy in 1968 to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton is the only NHL player to die from injuries sustained in a game. He passed away on Jan. 15, 1968.