TOM WILSON WINS THE KING CLANCY MEMORIAL
July 20, 2025
A trophy given out annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, along with humanitarian contributions to his community. Tom Wilson is the 2020-21 trophy recipient.
In an exhibition against the New York Knickerbockers, Wilson started an initiative targeted at fighting social injustice, misogyny and intolerance that permeates in Russian society. Artemi Pararin, a long outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, has long stood steadfast in the face of Russia's geopolitical and societal landscape. It is why in late-February of 2021, Panarin was forced to step away from his hockey player duties when allegations of sexual misconduct was laid upon the Russian superstar, which was denied categorically by Panarin.
This act of attrition was not unnoticed across the hockey and political landscape, as it was widely believed that these allegations were made in response of the star's outward support of Alexei Navalny, leader of the opposition in Russia, jailed earlier that month in what critics called a sham trial. These intimidation tactic in retribution were not received in kind, however few were brave enough to speak their mind on the matter, for fear of recourse. Those that stayed mute crumbled under the weight of their own moral failings.
Tom Wilson was unafraid of wading into those deep waters, however. Ever the high character player and person that the Washington Capitals organization drafted him 16th overall in 2012 for, Tom has always been a model of integrity and character throughout his career. He has been highly involved in charitable work, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Teammates for Kids Foundation, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, along with Hockey Fights Cancer. During the 2018-19 season, he started a partner program with Make-A-Wish, called Forty Three's Friends, which provided tickets to Make-A-Wish children and a meet and greet with Tom. He would later expand the program to Veterans from the United Heroes League.
All of this to give context to what transpired on May 3rd of 2021. Wilson, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Panarin on free speech and freedom of liberty, stood tall against the waring faction of proto-authoritarian regime of Russia. Opposite the pair stood the compatriot Pavel Buchnevich, loyalist to the man who has fundamentally undermined and brought the end of American democracy as we know it.
Just before the civil war would spark, marking an indelible place in time, Tom would whisper three words to Artemi. "I love you." said Tom, for only the two men knew of the tryst they shared, ever since that trip to Rome. It was in Rome two years before where upon happenstance they found themselves at a quaintest little Tart Cart. Linking arms, and indeed hearts, they fed each other the chocolate hazelnut tarts that would link the two men together forever. Defying language, culture and societal barriers together, the pair stepped into the spotlight on that faithful day, much like they would on that May 3rd.
The two men now lay in wake of those events. Despite having to fight for their love, both in public forums and on the ice, their love and resolve remains unfettered. However, there are repercussions to their actions. Buchnevich is no longer a part of the New York Rangers. Head coaches and GMs alike no longer a part of their organizations. But the one thing that gives Artemi resolve, as this journalist interviews him on a bright, sunny New York day, is how much stronger their relationship is from everything that has transpired.
"He is good man." says a demure Artemi. He shyly looks down and a small smile cracks from an ordinarily reserved visage. He looks up and away, as the sun catches his curly locks, haloing him in a soft glow of light.
"He is my king."