By James Dombrowski / Sports Columnist

(Oct. 29, 2009) — Devised by the New York Rangers in 1966 as an award to recognize hockey leadership both on and off the ice the Lester Patrick Award is given each year by the National Hockey League to worthy individuals who exemplify the best that hockey has to offer. This year's recipients were Mike Richter of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion Rangers; Jim Devellano, architect of the Islanders' four Stanley Cups and the present success of the Detroit Red Wings; and six-time champion Mark Messier who helped break the Stanley Cup drought for the Rangers. Also in photo is NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman standing between Devellano and Messier.  

A crowd of over 300 hockey executives, retired players, friends, and fans gathered in New York City last week to recognize these individuals for their lasting impression on the sport of hockey. Hockey is built in steep tradition and Patrick is one of the cornerstones of the NHL. All the recipients acknowledged the importance of Patrick and were proud to receive the award.  

Messier who had won five Stanley Cups with the Edmington Oilers noted he relished the challenge of coming to New York to help break a 50-year drought.  "Winning in New York was everything and more than I thought it would be," explained Messier.  

Messier also spoke about the sport of hockey in America on the amateur level and you could see tears in his eyes when he explained that the children are being professionalized at a much too young age. "You can not take a seven-year-old and fast track him to the NHL. Kids should play for fun and they should play more than one sport," explained Messier. "The chance of making the NHL is .007 percent of the over 300 million people in America. We are ruining kids’ childhoods by making them think that playing only hockey will get them in the NHL. You have to have fun. Maybe at 14 you can begin to take a different approach and begin to play on traveling teams, but not at the young ages that are being done now. The traveling all around the country to play in these junior tournaments is not good for the kids involved," noted Messier.