Vezina Trophy make special appearance at Jets game
Posted October 18, 2024 3:27 pm.
Last Updated October 18, 2024 3:28 pm.
Jets fans are gearing up for the third straight home game of the season, and it’s going to be a special one!
The Vezina Trophy — awarded to the league’s best goaltender — will be in attendance for fans to see, as Connor Hellebuyck has won it for the second time in just five years.
“This is a huge honour, I want to congratulate the other nominees, it’s an honour just to be in the same conversation as you guys,” said Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck’s impressive 37-19-4 record, .921 save percentage, and 1,656 saves earned him these honours for the second time in his nine seasons with the Jets.
The Vezina is one of two awards fans will have the chance to get their hands on Friday night, as the William M. Jennings Trophy — awarded to the goaltender with the fewest goals against — will also be in attendance.
“The NHL has perpetual trophies that are around always, none of the other sports have that. So when we bring them and they have the history, inevitably everybody wants to get a photo, and we allow them to get up close, put their arm around it, touch it, and get a photo with it so I think that’s what’s unique to hockey and makes it special,” explained Izak Westgate, the manager of Outreach Exhibits & assistant curator at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Westgate says there’s a team of 10-12 of them who travel with the trophies to different locations and make sure they’re taken care of properly.
“There’s 18 NHL trophies and they’re all treated the same as the Stanley Cup when they go out on the road and get the white glove treatment, their prestigious awards so we want to make sure they’re treated that way,” he explained.
This is the first time the trophies will be displayed at Canada Life Centre, and Westgate says it’s always special seeing the player’s reactions.
“Honestly it’s probably one of the most rewarding parts of what we do, is seeing how enthralled they are with seeing the trophies and the fact that their name is on there with their idols.”
Westgate says there’s a version of the trophies always on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and players also receive a replica of their awards to keep.
