The NHLFA is actively lobbying the National Hockey League (NHL) in an attempt to have the Hart Memorial Trophy renamed the Gordie Howe Trophy.
The Hart Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL “player judged most valuable to his team”. Since 1924, the trophy has been awarded to 54 different players, including six times to Gordie Howe, second only to Wayne Gretzky who won the trophy a record nine times.
The NHL community owes an enormous debt to Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey, now 85 years old, was instrumental in building the game for today’s generation of owners, players and executives. During a long, successful career spanning five decades, Gordie was the game’s marquee player. Away from the rink, Gordie has always been a model ambassador for the sport.
The NHLFA is encouraging hockey fans to join a social media campaign to show their support for this change. Please “follow” our Facebook page (facebook.com/GordieHoweTrophy) or “like” our Twitter account (https://twitter.com/HoweTrophy).

The NHLFA would like to encourage your hockey loving family, friends and colleagues to support this campaign.

The Penguins came into tonight’s game looking to tie the series with game 5 looming tomorrow night.

MVP Tyler Johnson made sure that didn’t happen.

Johnson scored the game winner just 1:50 into the third, and Syracuse won 4-2. They now lead the series 3-1.

In a penalty-filled first, the Penguins’ struck first. With Radko Gudas in the box for interference, rookie Scott Harrington skated into the slot and fired a puck past Syracuse goalie Cedrick Desjardins. Assists went to Dominik Uher and Riley Holzapfel. Unfortunately for the Wilkes-Barre, the leads was short lived, as Syracuse struck back just 1:17 later. Brendan Mikkelson wristed a shot that eldude WBS netminder Brad Thiessen.

In the second period, Wilkes-Barre took the lead back. 3:20 in, Warren Peters took a loose puck on the half boards and found a streaking Jayson Megna in the slot. It was Megna’s second of the playoffs. Once again, the Crunch would strike right back. Following a turnover in the offensive zone, Mark Barberio would take a point shot that was deflected by Brett Connolly.

The game winner came early in the third. Ondrej Palat circled behind the net, faked out Thiessen severely and found a WIDE open Johnson at the far post, and he did not miss. J.T. Wyman would add an empty-netter with 55 seconds left, and that was all she wrote. Game 5 is tomorrow from the War Memorial at OnCenter at 7 P.M.

The Wilkes-Barre Power Play, consistently one of the best in these playoffs, was 0-5. That was the story of game 4 of the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Final.

The first period, which was not kind to the Penguins’ on Sunday when they were outshot by a margin of 15-1, was a markedly balanced affair tonight. Both teams traded chances and it seemed Wilkes-Barre carried the play in the back half of the frame. The Penguins’ best chance of the period came as the period was winding down and they had the man-advantage, but Syracuse netminder Cedrick Desardins’ stood tall.

What proved to be the game winning goal for the Crunch came at 7:29 of the middle period. An Alex Grant turnover was picked up by Ondrej Palat, who passed to Vladislav Namestnikov, who faked out Chris Collins and fired it past Brad Thiessen.

In the third, Wilkes-Barre managed only five shots. The nail in the coffin came when J.T. Brown scored his third of the playoffs with five seconds remaining.

NOTES: Attendance was 4012–Three Stars were 3-Thiessen (WBS 2-Namestnikov (SYR) 1-Desjardins (SYR) Shots for the game were 22 for each side. Game 4 is Friday in at Mohegan Sun Arena At Casey Plaza: 7:10 Faceoff