Mark Howe, Pat Kelly Are Lester Patrick Trophy Winners
NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Fame defenseman Mark Howe and East Coast Hockey League co-founder Pat Kelly are this year's Lester Patrick Trophy winners for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Howe played 22 professional seasons split between the NHL and the World Hockey Association, and is the son of NHL great Gordie Howe, who died in June. Born in Detroit, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
Kelly helped establish the ECHL in 1988 and has 60 years of hockey experience as a player, coach and executive.
This is the 50th year the trophy has been presented. The two will be honored during the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Philadelphia on Nov. 30.
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