Travis Hamonic is Masterton Trophy 2016 Nominee for New York Islanders

Travis Hamonic is the New York Islanders nominee for the 2016 Masterton Trophy, as determined by the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA). The trophy is awarded annually to a player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey," as voted by members of the PHWA. Each city's chapter selects a representative from their respective NHL team.

Newsday's Isles beat reporter and PHWA member Arthur Staple tweeted the news of Hamonic's selection. Follow the PHWA Twitter feed for announcements of each team's nominee as they come out today.

Hamonic is the Islanders' minute muncher this season, averaging 24:05 per game. But the big story surrounding him in 2015-16 was news of a confidential trade request made last summer -- and how he's handled the leak of that news. Apparently made for family reasons, neither Hamonic or the team wanted the request to move closer to his Manitoba home to become public. But when it did leak, he dealt with it up front and then promptly put it behind him as he continued his work as an important Islanders defenseman.

The Isles felt how important Hamonic is when they had to play their playoff series last spring without him, thanks to a late-season MCL injury.

Off the ice, he's known for his community work, including a moving initiative in which after each home game he hosts and visits with fans who, like him, lost a parent at a young age.