MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens are pleased to announce the selection of goaltender Jake Allen as the recipient of the Jean Béliveau Trophy for the 2021-22 season.
Awarded annually to the Canadiens player who best exemplifies leadership qualities in the community, the trophy is accompanied by a $25,000 donation made by the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation to a charity of the player’s choice. As a result, Allen chose to donate this amount to the Fondation Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais to support its programs aiming to prevent and reduce bullying, discrimination, and violence in schools.
Established in 2003 to commemorate the 50 years of association between Mr. Jean Béliveau and the Canadiens, this award aims to celebrate the values that characterized the great man and player that he was. Mr. Béliveau devoted an important part of his career to supporting various organizations mainly helping the most disadvantaged children. Candidates are evaluated based on their commitment, their leadership, as well as the implication and time invested in collective and personal initiatives that are close to their hearts.
Video: Jake Allen awarded the Jean Béliveau Trophy
Allen, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, joined the Canadiens in September 2020. Since joining the organization, the Fredericton native has strived to continually improve the lives of those around him, both in Montreal and in his home province. In 2016, Allen and his wife, Shannon, founded Program 34, a non-profit which seeks to reduce and eliminate barriers in sports caused by poverty, distance, disability, and culture. Since its founding, nearly half a million dollars have been raised and redistributed to 22 New Brunswick charities, thanks in part to the Jake Allen Classic, an annual golf tournament that has raised more than $75,000 during its sixth edition in August. Aware that few young hockey players from the Maritimes manage to make it to the NHL, every summer the Canadiens netminder mentors aspiring goaltenders through his Jake Allen Fantasy Goalie Camp reserved for Bantam AAA youth from all over New Brunswick.
Last year, the Allens organized the collection and distribution of 300 blankets for isolated elderly people in Montreal as part of the Santa to a Senior initiative. At the end of last season, Allen also auctioned off his game-worn mask, which netted more than $15,000 split between Program 34 and the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. More recently, Allen donated a pair of half-season tickets to Sun Youth to encourage the participation of girls in sports by inviting young female athletes enrolled in football, basketball, and hockey programs to attend a Canadiens game.
In May 2022, Allen was also nominated by the Canadiens as a candidate for the 2021-22 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
Allen succeeds forward Jonathan Drouin, who was the recipient of the award last season. Past winners of the trophy are Phillip Danault, Shea Weber, Brendan GallagherMax Pacioretty, PK Subban, Carey Price, Brian Gionta, Michael Cammalleri, Maxim Lapierre, Patrice Brisebois, Alex Kovalev, Francis Bouillon, Steve Bégin and Saku Koivu.
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