NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- "We'll win tonight!" said Mark Messier before scoring a hat trick in game six of the 1994 National Hockey League(R) (NHL) Eastern Conference Championship to force a deciding game seven.
In an age of fantasy leagues and sports talk radio, on ice statistics are stressed more than ever. Yet we have lost some focus on the crucial intangibles of leadership. Good leaders are catalysts for positive action. They apply vision, passion and preparation to influence others to work toward a common goal.
In his 25 seasons in the NHL, Mark Messier became the true definition of a leader. The six-time Stanley Cup(R) champion and 16-time NHL All-Star, has been honored numerous times for his humanitarian efforts and is widely viewed as one of the greatest leaders in all sports. Revered for his "Game Six Guarantee" as his New York Rangers(R) faced elimination, Messier has always been known to make others around him better. By leading with a fierce determination, teammates were motivated to elevate their game and commit to one common goal, winning the Stanley Cup. He took this passion and determination off the ice and has been honored for his many philanthropic efforts including the recent naming of the Mark Messier Skyway at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. This honors more than 15 years of dedication and commitment to help raise millions of dollars to benefit children with cancer and other serious blood disorders.
On November 14th, the first ever Mark Messier Leadership Award(TM) will be presented by Messier at Madison Square Garden(R), the site where he brought joy to millions by leading the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years. Over the course of a season, five NHL players will be honored with monthly awards.
The Mark Messier Leadership Award presented by COLD-fX(TM)+*, the official immune enhancer of the NHL, recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport and as a contributing member of society. The criteria for the Award includes:
- athletic performance
- the ability to motivate and influence teammates
- a commitment to community and charitable causes and
- a dedication to a professional attitude as a representative of their
sport and as a positive role model within society
The NHL will support the Award by assisting in the qualification of potential recipients and by promoting it on its website and through regular press releases. "At a time when the world needs great role models, Mark Messier is a singular performer and living legend who exemplifies the best qualities of a leader, as both a professional athlete and human being," says Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner. "The NHL is excited to support Mark in the introduction of this new award that not only recognizes on-ice leadership but also highlights the tremendous contributions made by NHL players to charities and their communities. This is what sets them apart and why we're so proud of them."
"The NHL is fortunate to have so many players that embody all the attributes of great leadership. These are players who are tremendous motivators and role models both on and off the ice," says Mark Messier. "I don't think we hear enough positive stories about professional athletes. This award provides an opportunity for me to acknowledge the players who lead by example and bring out the best in others, both within their sport as well as in the community."
Being a captain is not a prerequisite to win this award, as Messier explains. "There are many styles of leadership. Players lead by example and that can vary from pure talent, to a passion and dedication to the game, to a commitment to be a great role player for the good of the team." The common thread is that this commitment and dedication transcends the game and crosses over to how a player views his responsibility as an active contributor to his community.
At the end of the regular season, the player who demonstrates the leadership skills defined by the award criteria on the most consistent basis will be named recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award of the year presented by COLD-fX. The Leader of the Year will have their name permanently engraved on the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The design of the award will be showcased later this season.
Each month, COLD-fX will make a $5,000 donation to the charity of the monthly winner's choice. In addition, a donation of $25,000 will be made to the annual winner's charity of choice. Each winner will also receive a COLD- fX Luxury Healthy Lifestyle Gift Basket including a one-year supply of COLD- fX.
"We have a shared vision with Mark for setting a new standard in leadership and excellence," says Dr. Jacqueline Shan, President and CEO of COLD-fX maker CV Technologies. "Mark is a daily inspiration to our team in its efforts to lead in the development of new natural medicines that will improve people's lives. We are honored to support Mark in his mission to acknowledge the true leaders in sports who show credibility and integrity on a consistent basis."
VERSUS, the U.S. national cable television home of the NHL, is also supporting the new Award by committing to broadcast a program segment each month to highlight individual winners of the Mark Messier Leadership Award presented by COLD-fX. Mark will join the VERSUS hockey broadcast team to host each of the six monthly programs. The final program will be broadcast from the site of the first Stanley Cup playoff game.
About COLD-fX
COLD-fX, a breakthrough product underscored by scientific leadership, is known as "Canada's best kept secret" and is now available to U.S. consumers for the first time. COLD-fX is the only natural immune enhancing supplement on the market to complete Phase II clinical trials, which have proven its safety and efficacy. A pivotal clinical trial conducted on COLD-fX was recently included in the Office of Dietary Supplements Division of the National Institutes of Health's Annual Bibliography of Significant Advances in Dietary Supplements Research.
In the United States, COLD-fX is classified and regulated as a dietary supplement recommended for strengthening the immune system.* COLD-fX can be used daily, anytime of year, and has been shown to strengthen the immune system by enhancing the effects of various cellular components including Natural Killer (NK) cells and macrophages.*
COLD-fX has a multi-year partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL(R)) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and has been named the official immune enhancer of the league. CV Technologies has also secured NHL legend and six-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Messier as an official spokesperson for COLD-fX. Messier has joined forces with the NHL and the NHLPA to support the introduction of Canada's top selling and # 1 pharmacist-recommended cold remedy into the U.S. as an immune enhancer.
About CV Technologies
CV Technologies, founded in 1992, is a global leader in the development and commercialization of naturally derived, evidence based, clinically tested medicines for disease prevention and health maintenance. The Company's lead product -- Cold-fX(TM)-- the top selling cold and flu remedy in Canada according to ACNielsen (52 weeks ending September 6, 2006), strengthens the immune system and is widely used as a leading over-the-counter (OTC) remedy for preventing and relieving cold and flu infections. Cold-fX(TM), with its unique and patented mechanism of action was standardized according to the Company's ChemBioPrint (CBP) Process. The CBP process precisely identifies the chemical profile and biological activity of multi-active compounds in evidence-based natural therapeutics. The CBP process also provides a manufacturing protocol that ensures each batch of the final product delivers verifiable and provable health benefits. All patents and trademarks related to international rights are held by fX Life Sciences International GmbH. Cold-fX is distributed in the U.S. by Cold-fX Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. Both companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of CV Technologies.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure
or prevent any disease.
+ The product name refers to the traditional cooling energy of the source
material. This product is not intended to treat, cure or prevent upper
respiratory infections due to cold or influenza-like viruses.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second oldest of the four major team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup, with players from 19 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are educated, wired and the youngest of all of the fans of any other professional sport.
During the 2006-07 season, the NHL's national television partners -- Versus, NBC, TSN, and CBC -- will broadcast a total of 230 regular-season games. The NHL Network is a 24-hour hockey channel available on digital cable and satellite throughout Canada. The home for the hockey fan, the NHL Network's schedule is devoted exclusively to the sport of hockey with a roster that features live games, highlight shows, player profiles and interviews, vintage hockey, international and amateur hockey, as well as original and "All Access" programming. The NHL Network's signature show, "NHL On The Fly," airs nightly during the season, giving hockey fans live look-ins, highlights and analysis to NHL games all across the League. The NHL Network web site is located at http://www.nhlnetwork.ca/.
Through NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey's All-Star Kids and NHL Diversity, and supports the charitable efforts of all NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
NHL is a registered trademark and the NHL Shield is a trademark of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
About VERSUS
VERSUS celebrates real competition in all its forms. The network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as best-in-class events like The Tour de France, the America's Cup, the Dakar Rally, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), Professional Boxing, the Boston Marathon, AMA Motocross and Davis Cup. Now in more than 70 million homes, the network features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events that audiences can't find elsewhere. The network offers unique, competition-themed original programming and is the exclusive home of Survivor in syndication. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation , is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
