“Doing a pretty good job” – Kings’ Anze Kopitar wins Messier NHL Leadership Award

Anze Kopitar

Los Angeles Kings captain and centre Anze Kopitar won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award on Wednesday. Notably, this award is presented to the one who exemplifies great leadership qualities on and off the ice and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.

Kopitar truly deserved this title as the Slovene ice hockey player has been at the forefront of helping promote the sport in Southern California, where the centre has spent 16 seasons with the Kings since being selected No. 11 in the 2005 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft.

“We’re all trying to grow the game. Between the LA Kings and myself I think we’ve done a really good job around here in SoCal, with the help of the Anaheim Ducks team,” Kopitar said in an interview with Messier after he was announced as the winner, as quoted by NHL.com. “Just getting the game spread apart here in SoCal, and I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”

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“Thankful to be a part of the hockey community”

Kopitar, 34, has participated in multiple community programs for the Kings, including the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Make a Wish Foundation, Wags and Walks and the Kings Care Foundation. The Jesenice native was voted by teammates as the Ace Bailey Memorial Award winner (most inspirational player) each of the past two seasons.

Anze Kopitar is the 2021-22 recipient of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.@AnzeKopitar has been a prominent face of the @LAKings since 2006, helping them to unprecedented success and representing the club in the community.#NHLAwards: https://t.co/5SpMeIJVP4 #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/UymonYPURE
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 2, 2022

“Even for myself back home, I’ve been able to host a hockey academy for several years now and I’m pretty proud of that one,” Kopitar said. “We’ve covered quite a few countries. The word is spreading. I think last year we covered altogether 13 countries, so the kids are coming and wanting to learn and wanting to start up with hockey and I’m very thankful to be a part of the hockey community. It’s given me so much. Being very humbled and honoured just to be around the game of hockey. It’s been great.”

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