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NEW CANAAN, Conn. New Canaan native and Montreal Canadiens left winger Max Pacioretty received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the 2012 National Hockey League Awards Show on Wednesday. The Masterton Trophy is given to the NHL player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey," according to the league's website.
Pacioretty nearly had his career cut short in the 2010-11 season on a check by Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and broken vertebrae in his back. He returned in October and posted the best numbers of his career, 33 goals and 32 assists this past season.
The hit by Chara on Montreal's home ice infamously prompted hundreds of Canadiens fans to call Montreal police demanding the Bruins defenseman's arrest. No arrest was made.
Pacioretty also created the Max Pacioretty Foundation to raise money for the brain trauma center at Montreal General Hospital.
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