Like any good goalie, Manny Legace knows that one of the keys to stopping the next puck is the ability to forget about those that got through. So when the Detroit Red Wings released him after he recorded a career-high 37 wins in 2006, Manny treated it like a goal-gone-by and moved on without bitterness or regret. Now entering his third season in St. Louis, Manny has proven the Red Wings’ loss to be the Blues’ gain, collecting 2,825 saves and 50 wins for the rapidly-improving organization. Off the ice, Manny has encouraged others to adopt a similar mindset. In 2007, Manny and his wife, Gi, served as honorary co-chairs for the 9th annual Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure. Manny and Gi both have mothers who are breast cancer survivors. More than 65,000 people turned out to participate in the event, which raised more than $2.5 million for breast cancer research. Manny also volunteers for Rebuilding Together – St. Louis, an organization designed to make improvements to the homes and communities of low-income families in the greater St. Louis area. And as a spokesman for the Judson Center, a nonprofit human service agency located in southeastern Michigan, Manny helps children, adults and families improve their lives. For his efforts, Manny was recently named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Masterton Trophy is an annual award given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Whether bolstering the Blues or providing assistance to the less fortunate, Manny has displayed remarkable perseverance and dedication – characteristics fundamental to the principles of sportsmanship and qualities we should never forget.
Manny Legace is the St. Louis Blues’ 2008 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards honoree. Past Blues award recipients include Jamal Mayers and Doug Weight.