Yesterday the National Hockey League announced their 32 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, one representative for each team. Representing the Washington Capitals will be Tom Wilson. The award is given annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
This is a Capitals blog but if you’re not a Caps fan reading this article your first thought is probably “WHAT?”.
That’s right as fearsome as Wilson can be on the ice, he’s a great dude off the ice. He gives back to the community in more ways than one. Currently, he’s raising funds for the So Kids Can community program through a fundraiser that launched yesterday in honor of the nomination.
Fans who make a donation to So Kids Can online at alltroo.com/wilson between May 9 and June 27 will be entered to win two tickets to a future mutually agreed upon Capitals game with a postgame meet and greet with Wilson.
The experience also includes a signed jersey and game used stick as well as airfare and hotel for two individuals. All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the 2022 23 So Kids Can beneficiary Playtime Project.
Playtime Project cultivates resilience in children experiencing family housing insecurity by providing and expanding access to transformative play experiences.
Wilson actively gave back through the community throughout his career through two player programs as well as being involved in additional initiatives throughout each season.
In 2018, Wilson created 43’s Friends to provide tickets and a special postgame meet and greet to kids waiting for their wishes to be granted by Make A Wish (MAW) Mid Atlantic. The next year he expanded his program to also include families selected by United Heroes League.
Wilson chose MAW Mid Atlantic after he was inspired by a former player who donated tickets to the program and selected United Heroes League after meeting many incredible men and women in the area who serve or have passionately served in the military.
This season while recovering from his ACL injury, Wilson was still active in the community. He hosted three kids from Make A Wish Mid Atlantic and three kids from United Heroes League in a suite for the Capitals vs. Arizona Coyotes game on Nov. 5 where he spent quality time with the kids and families throughout the game.
Wilson is a member of So Kids Can with fellow teammates Nicklas Backstrom and Martin Fehervary as well as Elliot in the Morning’s Elliot Segal. Through the program, the players and Elliot pledged $50 per Capitals win during the regular season and $100 per win during the playoffs to a youth focused non profit.
Fans were encouraged to donate at washcaps.com/sokidscan. This season they raised more than $32,000 playtime project. So Kids Can held a sweepstakes at the beginning of the season offering the winner the opportunity to watch the game with Wilson, Backstrom, and Segal. The trio joined the sweepstakes winner and Playtime Project representatives in a suite for the Oct. 15 game.
During this season, Wilson was involved in multiple wish experiences and an adaptive bike presentation. He’s also an ambassador and volunteer for the Wolf Trap Animal Rescue and supported several all team initiatives including the organization’s annual team hospital visit, Hockey Fights Cancer initiative and the Caps Canine Calendar among other things.
In December 2022, Wilson was a part of Will Mumford’s wish to give an art installation to his community, specifically MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Wilson first met Will during a 43’s Friends activity in 2021 22.
When Wilson first learned about the wish, he told Will to let him know when the art unveiling would take place so he could see it in person. Tom kept true to his word and was thrilled to see Will’s Mosaic Weagle art unveiling. You can see it in the lobby of MedStar.
If you aren’t a Caps fan and still think Tom Wilson is a bad guy, I seriously don’t know what to tell you. The dude inspires kids to be the best version of themselves and not to let the pressures of their life get in the way. We can all learn a thing or two or even donate five bucks to a local charity thanks to the inspiration he’s provided.
The finalists for the 2022 23 King Clancy Memorial Trophy as well as the winner will be announced by the NHL at a later date.