"The vast majority of accolades that will be handed out at the 2011 NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22 will go to players judged to be the "best" in their particular category -- the star scorer, the top goaltender, the most-celebrated rookie.

One award, however, isn't about lighting up the stat sheet or piling up the wins and shutouts. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honors the late Minnesota North Stars player who died in 1968, is handed out annually to "the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."

It's a special award that takes an athlete with a certain set of characteristics to earn, and it's hard to find a more worthy list of nominees than the three announced by the League on Tuesday: Anaheim Ducks goalie Ray Emery, Calgary Flames forward Daymond Langkow and Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere."