Giordano wins Mark Messier Leadership Award

Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano has won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award for the 2019-20 season, the league announced Sunday.

The honor is handed out annually to the player who "exemplifies great leadership qualities on and off the ice and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."

The veteran defenseman promotes physical fitness, academics, and leadership development at a handful of Calgary's high-needs schools through Team Giordano, an initiative he launched in partnership with the city's board of education in 2014. The program has raised $400,000 and improved the lives of nearly 3,000 students.

Giordano also lends his time to several other causes in the community, including the Flames' literacy program, the Calgary Pride Parade, and the You Can Play Project.

The soon-to-be 37-year-old was also a finalist for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award last season. He won the NHL Foundation Player Award - given to the player who best demonstrates commitment, perseverance, and teamwork to enrich the lives of people in his community - in 2015-16. The league discontinued the latter honor in 2017-18.