Memorial Cup Most Sportsmanlike Players: Past, present, and future featured on George Parsons Trophy

The 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow is scheduled for Thursday, May 23 through Sunday, June 2 in Saginaw, Mich. Hosted by the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, the 2024 Memorial Cup will feature the WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors, OHL Champion London Knights, and QMJHL Champion Drummondville Voltigeurs.

In the lead-up to the 2024 Memorial Cup, we’re taking a look back through tournament history to highlight key performances and events with prominent WHL connections.

Bestowed to the player who best exemplifies the most sportsmanship during the Memorial Cup, the George Parsons Trophy is one of four awards circulated following the conclusion of the year-end tournament.

First presented in 1974, the Western Hockey League carries a long list of players who’ve received this notable achievement – many of whom have gone on to boast illustrious careers in the National Hockey League.

It was Mark Morrison of the then-Victoria Cougars who was the first WHL player to earn the George Parsons Trophy during the 1981 Memorial Cup. In a tournament that saw the Cougars bow out following a round-robin record of 1-3, it was Morrison who basked in the post-tournament spotlight. With six points (three goals–three assists) and only two penalty minutes through four games, Morrison was awarded the well-deserved most sportsmanlike award.

Morrison was later selected in the third round (51st overall) by the New York Rangers at the 1981 NHL Draft. After playing in parts of two seasons with the Rangers, Morrison travelled overseas, suiting up for teams in Italy, Switzerland, and, later, Scotland. Most recently, Morrison has converted to a life behind the bench as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose.

Trust us, one cannot talk about sportsmanship without bringing Jarome Iginla’s name into the mix.

A staple on the Kamloops Blazers’ 1994 and 1995 WHL Championship and Memorial Cup-winning team, Iginla was also awarded the George Parsons Trophy at the conclusion of the 1995 tournament. Iginla not only brought his world-class sportsmanship to the event held in Kamloops, B.C. but also an insatiable knack for the scoresheet. Alongside his seven penalty minutes through four appearances, Iginla also recorded four goals and two assists for six points. Through three seasons with the Blazers, the future Hockey Hall of Famer owns 236 points (102 goals–134 assists) in 183 games and was named the WHL Player of the Year following the 1995-96 season.

Iginla’s invaluable traits of sportsmanship and leadership would not go unnoticed following his time in the WHL either. In a 21-season career in the NHL, Iginla was a frequent recipient of awards highlighting acts of leadership, character, and, of course, sportsmanship. Prior to his retirement in 2017, the long-time Calgary Flames captain was presented with the NHL’s Foundation Player Award, Leadership-Humanitarian Award, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Not to mention several awards celebrating notable on-ice achievements, including the Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by the NHLPA), Art Ross Trophy (Top Scorer), and a two-time winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy (most goals).

The 2014 Memorial Cup was a memorable one for not only the Edmonton Oil Kings but for Curtis Lazar as well. As a two-time WHL Champion with the Oil Kings (2012 and 2014), the product of Salmon Arm, B.C., was in the last grouping of WHL skaters to win the CHL-wide tournament. But it wasn’t just the Memorial Cup that Lazar hoisted post-game, as he was also the recipient of the George Parsons Trophy. With four points (two goals–two assists) and four penalty minutes in five appearances at the event, the WHL alumnus was named the Memorial Cup’s most sportsmanlike player.

Known as both a role model and leader during his time with the Oil Kings, Lazar graduated from the Western League with the same values in hand. Having recently concluded his tenth season in the NHL, Lazar has been a locker-room favourite across the league. In 524 career games – spent with the Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils – Lazar proudly holds a mere 155 penalty minutes and 120 points (45 goals–75 assists). Lazar has also been named a nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (presented to a player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport of hockey) on three different occasions.

Most recently, it was current Dallas Stars budding forward Logan Stankoven who captured the George Parsons Trophy. Making an appearance at the 2023 Memorial Cup with the hosting Kamloops Blazers, Stankoven not only led the tournament in points (nine points in four games played), but also led by example in terms of sportsmanship and on-ice leadership. For his efforts, the former Blazers captain was the recipient of both the George Parsons Trophy and the Ed Chynoweth Trophy – awarded to the Top Scorer at the Memorial Cup.

Stankoven’s list of junior hockey achievements filtered well past the CHL’s Memorial Cup too. The 21-year-old was named the recipient of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player for the 2021-22 season, along with the WHL and CHL’s Player of the Year awards, following a 104-point campaign (45 goals–59 assists).

Prior to making the leap to the NHL with the Stars, Stankoven also added the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy to his campaign as the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year for the 2022-23 season.

Stankoven was also named the AHL’s Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

CHL George Parsons Trophy Winners from the WHL
2023 – Logan Stankoven, Kamloops Blazers
2014 – Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
2010 – Toni Rajala, Brandon Wheat Kings
2004 – Josh Gorges, Kelowna Rockets
2002 – Tomas Plihal, Kootenay ICE
1995 – Jarome Iginla, Kamloops Blazers
1991 – Ray Whitney, Spokane Chiefs
1985 – Tony Grenier, Prince Albert Raiders
1981 – Mark Morrison, Victoria Cougars