Doan, Miller and Crosby named finalists for Messier Award

Hockey Betting Lines

06/02/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby have been selected as 2010 finalists for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

The award recognizes an individual as a superior leader in hockey and as a contributing member of society. It honors an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.

Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion in a 25-year NHL career, solicits suggestions from club and league personnel, as well as fans, in compiling a list of potential candidates. However, the selection of the three finalists and the ultimate winner is Messier's alone.

Doan, who has played for the franchise since the 1990s when it was known as the Winnipeg Jets, has been captain of the Coyotes for the last six years. He presided over the club's best season in team history, which saw Phoenix win 50 games and compile 107 points -- both franchise highs -- while it reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002. All of this occurred as the status of the team was up in the air with bankruptcy proceedings and rumors of relocation swirling constantly.

The 33-year-old has maintained a constant presence in the Valley of the Sun since he arrived in 1996. He currently serves as an ambassador for Coyotes Charities, and works with Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission and Flashes of Hope -- an organization which allows photographers to visit terminally ill children and take uplifting family portraits.

Miller led the Sabres to a first-place finish in the Northeast Division this past season, and was also the tournament MVP as the backstop for the silver medal winning Team USA squad at the Vancouver Winter Games.

As the primary face of the franchise, Miller works closely with the Buffalo Sabres Foundation during its numerous events within the community. However, his best work comes with the Steadfast Foundation -- an entity Miller himself founded -- which works to benefit those who have been affected by childhood cancer.

Crosby, the Penguins' captain, has helped his club to a pair of Stanley Cup Finals appearances with a Cup victory in 2009. The native of Nova Scotia also etched his name in national lore after tallying the game-winner in overtime for Canada against the USA at Vancouver.

The 22-year-old superstar hosts a suite for underprivileged children at every Penguins home game in conjunction with the Make a Wish Foundation. He funds and serves as an on-ice instructor for the Penguins' Learn to Play Program that introduces the game to youngsters and, with support from Reebok, outfits them from head to toe.

The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.

Last year's winner was Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames. Chris Chelios of Detroit won the inaugural award in 2007.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

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"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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