Used with permission from Bridgetds' Flickr

The end of the school year has come and gone, and I’m regaining my sanity one round of golf at a time! Thanks for hanging in there with me while updating my site has totally gone to the waste side. Now that hockey’s over, I really don’t want to think about hockey, because then I will just miss it.

Well, sort of. Mostly I’ve just used up all my creative energy for lesson plans, and the think tank is officially down at 0.

This is probably why I had no idea a Michigan hockey alum was actually up for an award at this year’s NHL Awards in Las Vegas. Ooops!

And a very important award it is—Sorry, Max!

Everyone remembers Max getting his face/neck/body smashed into the partition by Zdeno Chara in April 2011. If you don’t, here’s a video to remind you!

This and his subsequent rehabilitation have him nominated for the Masterson Award.

From Bleacher Report:

Bill Masterton played for the Minnesota North Stars during the NHL’s original expansion in 1967-68. When he was checked hard by two members of the Oakland Seals, he fell backwards and his head hit the ice. Masterton went into a coma and he never came out of it. Masterton remains the only NHL player to die from injuries suffered in a game.

Masterton was a hard working and dedicated player and the trophy that bears his name goes to the player who shows dedication to hockey, perseverance and sportsmanship.

Pacioretty along with Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs are the nominees in this category.

And the award goes to…

Well, I hope it’s Pacioretty. I mean, did you see the hit? He was such a good sport about the entire ensuing rehab and Montreal wanting to prosecute Chara and all that. He worked hard through it all to come back at score 33 goals this year and 32 assists in 79 games. Five of those goals were game winners.

Pacioretty only played for the maize and blue for one season (07-08), but once you’re a wolverine, you’re always a wolverine.

Good luck tonight! The Awards are on the NHL Network at 7pm eastern. Live from Las Vegas…you know Vegas has some nice golf courses…maybe next year?