A special night for the Kraken

 

The Seattle Kraken’s regular-season home finale with the San Jose Sharks was a microcosm of a lot of the Kraken problems this year. The home team compiled 50 shots on net but could only sneak one past a relatively unknown goalkeeper in the Sharks’ Devin Cooley.

However, it was still a festive night at Climate Pledge Arena- Fan Appreciation Night- and if you didn’t win something it was your own fault. But it was also an interesting night for hard-core fans as the Kraken presented their 2023-24 awards. Here’s a look at the recipients and the folks who the awards are named after.

Three Star Award: Joey Daccord given to the player who accumulates the most points in the three-star competition. One point is awarded to the number-three star, two to the second star, and three to the first star. Previous Winners- 2021-22 Philipp Grubauer 2022-23 Jared McCann

Pete Muldoon, Most Valuable Player Award Jared McCann. Given to the player adjudged to be the most valuable player on the ice as voted on by the players and Seattle media. Previous Winners- 2021-22 Jared McCann 2022-23 Vince Dunn.

Guyle Fielder Award: Jaden Schwartz. Given to the player who most exemplifies perseverance, hustle and dedication, voted on by the players and Kraken hockey operations. Previous Winners- 2021-22 Yanni Gourde. 2022-23 Jaden Schwartz.

Fan Favorite Award: Joey Daccord. Voted on by the fans. Previous Winners- 2021-22 Yanni Gourde 2022-23 Matty Beniers.

The MVP Award’s named after Linton Muldoon Treacy, better known as Pete Muldoon, who coached the Seattle Metropolitans from 1915 to 1924 and led the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 1917 (the first for a US team). Muldoon was all of 29 at the time, still the youngest coach to win a Stanley Cup.

He played junior hockey in his native Ontario and was also a professional boxer before starting his coaching career in 1913 with the New Westminster Royals, like the Metropolitans a member of the Pacific Coast Hockey League.

Muldoon later became the first coach of the NHL Chicago Black Hawks, but was fired after one season. Legend had it, that Muldoon put an `Irish curse’ on the Black Hawks and their owner Frederic McLaughlin. However, Jim Coleman a Chicago sportswriter, later admitted he fabricated a story about Muldoon’s curse which stated the Blackhawks would never finish first. In fact, it was 41 years before Chicago finished first.

Without hyperbole, Guyle Fielder could be called a minor league hockey legend. He played for Seattle’s Western Hockey League entries from 1953 to 1968 (at various times nicknamed the Bombers, Americans and the Totems from 1958 on). He competed in the WHL from 1952 to 1973 and ranks as professional hockey’s all-time leading scorer behind Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr (still playing professionally in Europe at age 50) and Gordie Howe.

With only six NHL teams in that period, Fielder was one of many career minor-league players although he did play a total of 15 NHL games (six in the playoffs) with the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. In the WHL alone, Fielder racked up 391 goals and 1380 assists.

The Kraken honored the 93-year-old Fielder before the Feb. 19 game against the Detroit Red Wings (the team he spent the majority of his brief NHL career with) and was presented with the Kraken Winter Classic t-shirt by general manager Ron Francis. Fielder was in the Emerald City to receive the Royal Broughan Sports Legend Award at the Seattle Sports Banquet.

Muldoon and Fielder, Seattle’s first hockey legends.