Mission Statement : The Professional Hockey Writers Association is dedicated to preserving the rights and improving the access for members of the North American-based media who cover hockey. The PHWA is comprised of approximately dues-paying members in NHL markets who write about the sport for newspapers, magazines and online media. With expansion looming and more interest in the NHL anticipated, sportswriters assigned to cover hockey during the season decided it was time to combine efforts in attempting to resolve the problems associated with chronicling the sport.
Bylaws were written. Membership criteria was established. The group would have a local chapter in all six NHL cities. Each local chapter would have a president. At the national level, the NHLWA would have a president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer, plus four directors. Here is look at how the association has evolved over the past 52 years:. The first recipient was Claud Provost Montreal Canadiens. He was a year veteran when he won the award. But in recent years, the Masterton has gone most often to a player who has overcome medical hardship to find NHL success.
George Gross Toronto Telegram was elected vice president. Fischler applied for membership in the New York chapter, and had received no response.
The New York chapter said her application was forwarded to the national officers for consideration and no decision had been reached. Cyr became the first females to enter a professional sports dressing room when they were credentialed for the NHL All-Star game in Montreal. According to news reports at the time, the Rangers then voted to limit Herman to areas outside the dressing area.
Ferguson was an esteemed Montreal newspaper reporter who was in the first group to receive the award. Ballard used a cane to swing at a Toronto Globe and Mail reporter, but no one was injured in the rebellion. But in the offseason, bylaws were changed to prevent Ballard from denying media access to the dressing room. The award honored the memory of the former Minnesota North Stars public relations guru who died unexpectedly on May 24, Bystanders had restrained Hasek after he grabbed Kelley by the neck.
