Vincent Trocheck wins Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for Rangers
Vincent Trocheck was named the 2024 recipient of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented annually to the New York Rangers player who “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
The announcement was made in a pregame ceremony Sunday before the Rangers hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.
The award is named after Steven McDonald, a New York City Police Detective, who was also a lifelong Rangers fan. McDonald was shot and injured in the line of duty July 12, 1986, was courageous and forgiving in his recovery and always made an appearance at MSG to announce the winner of the award bearing his name after the Rangers established it before the 1987-88 season.
McDonald died on January 10, 2017, from his injuries at the age of 59.
His widow, Patti Ann McDonald, and son, New York City Police Officer Conor McDonald, presented the award to Trocheck on Sunday.
“I can’t thank Conor and his family enough for presenting me with the award. Definitely very honored,” Trocheck told MSG.
The award is chosen annually by fans and the winner is presented a $25,000 check (in the player’s name) from Northwell Health made out to the Steven McDonald Foundation.
“You always want the fans on your side so it’s nice to have them on my side,” Trocheck said. “It means a lot to me and I feel very welcome.”
Related: Breaking down Chris Kreider’s 302 goals with Rangers
Vincent Trocheck voted by Rangers fans as 2024 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner
Trocheck has had an outstanding 2023-24 season and been an inspiration with his fierce competitiveness and solid two-way play. With five games remaining in the regular season, Trocheck’s 75 points have tied his NHL career high set in 2017-18 with the Florida Panthers.
The 30-year-old also has 50 assists, which is a career high. His 25 goals are six shy of his best, also set in 2017-18. Trocheck has also won 58.5 percent of his face-offs, fourth best in the NHL, and is third on the Rangers with 167 hits.
Trocheck was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the second time in his career.
He stepped up in a major way this season when the Rangers needed him most. After beginning the season on the third line, Trocheck moved up the lineup after 10 games to take Filip Chytil’s place centering Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere after Chytil’s season-ending injury. Trocheck has helped his linemates each have a career-best season.
He is the fifth player on the Rangers current roster to win the prestigious award. Ryan Lindgren was last year’s winner, preceded by Chris Kreider (2022), Adam Fox (2021) and Mika Zibanejad (2019 and 2020).
Jan Erixon was the first recipient of the award in 1988. Adam Graves won it a franchise-high five times. Ryan Callahan (four times), Mats Zuccarello (three), Mark Messier (two), Jed Ortmeyer (two), Henrik Lundqvist (two), Sandy McCarthy (two), Erixon (two) and Zibanejad (two) all won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award more than once.
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