The first annual digesties: we couldn't come up with a clever moniker for our offbeat awards, but we think you'll agree that our alternative look at the season that was more than makes up for the weak name - Digestie Awards

Hockey Digest, Summer, 2002 by Adam Raider

WHEN HOCKEY'S BRIGHTEST stars don their tuxedos and converge on Toronto's Air Canada Centre on June 20 for the annual NHL awards ceremony, Calgary's Jarome Iginla is a favorite to walk away with some hardware for his breakout 2001-02 campaign. And Colorado's Patrick Roy, on the heels of perhaps his best season ever, is a lock to capture his fourth Vezina Trophy.

But other end-of-season awards will be given--awards that celebrate accomplishments heretofore ignored. Here, on the pages of HOCKEY DIGEST, men will be honored (perhaps dishonored) for their contributions to the sport.

You won't need a ticket or an exclusive invitation to attend this auspicious event. You need only to read on.

THE OGIE OGLETHORPE AWARD

Given oh-so-gently to the NHLer most in need of anger-management counseling.

WINNER: THEO FLEURY, N.Y. Rangers

RUNNER-UP: ED BELFOUR, Dallas

Sharkie, the San Jose Sharks mascot, achieved instant stardom after being punched by Fleury following his ejection from a game on December 28. Fleury's fury did more for Sharkie's career than Roseanne did for Tom Arnold's by divorcing him.

Belfour's psychotic rampage through the visitors' locker room in Vancouver back in February didn't end with the goalie having to be subdued by police (this time) but it did result in about $3,000 worth of damage to the walls, two televisions, a VCR, and a clock.

THE DENIS LEARY TROPHY

To honor a non-NHL celebrity's service to hockey.

WINNER: TODD MCFARLANE, comic book artist

McFarlane, creator of characters like Spawn, is a certified-hockey nut and a member of the Edmonton Oilers ownership group. But his greatest achievement was designing the team's new alternate jersey. These sharp-looking duds were a hit with fans, with $300,000 (Canadian) worth sold in the first weekend of availability. It has since become the fastest-selling third jersey ever.

THE CLINT MALARCHUK TROPHY

Given to the player who survives the season's most gruesome injury.

WINNER: DONALD AUDETTE, Montreal

When the Habs winger suffered a career-threatening gash to his left forearm--courtesy of Ranger Radek Dvorak's skate blade--fans feared the worst. With 11 tendons in his arm severed, Audette rushed off the ice as blood gushed from the wound. Four months later, he was back in the lineup helping the Canadiens make a return to the playoffs.

THE MARK HOWE AWARD

Given to the aging star who has overextended his career the most.

WINNER: DAVE ANDREYCHUK, Tampa Bay

RUNNER-UP: DOUG GILMOUR, Montreal

Is this any way for a guy with almost 600 goals to be remembered--slumming it with the lowly Bolts? Andreychuk, 38, is on his fifth team in four years and brazenly defying the notion that one should walk away from the game on top.

At least the geriatric Gilmour, who retired for about five minutes last off-season, helped the Habs earn a play-off berth. Gilmour's dream is to become a gourmet chef and there's no time like the present to chase your dreams.

THE PAT BURNS TROPHY

Presented to the coach most unjustly terminated during the season.

WINNER: KEN HITCHCOCK, Dallas

RUNNER-UP: LARRY ROBINSON, New Jersey

Their firings illustrate that some general managers aren't trying hard enough to improve their clubs. Robinson and Hitchcock--each barely removed from Stanley Cup championships--were scapegoats, and everyone knows it.

If Hitchcock was good enough to get Brett Hull to back check, he's still good enough to coach. But that was never an issue. The Stars were poorly assembled from the start and former GM Bob Gainey admitted as much before stepping down. He acknowledged that some acquisitions (Jyrki Lumme, Valeri Kamensky, Donald Audette) didn't work out as planned. Combine that with the team's advancing age and Dallas had a recipe for disaster.

Likewise, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello admonished his players for having quit on the affable Robinson, thus compelling him to make a coaching change. But Lou's honesty did not exonerate him from blame for not providing Robinson with the talent he needed to match last year's success. One can go to war with Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, and Randy McKay only so often before it's time to infuse the roster with some fresh blood. And grabbing an over-the-hill Kamensky off waivers from Dallas hardly qualified as fresh blood.

THE JIM CAREY TROPHY

Presented to the goaltender who suffers the greatest drop-off from the previous season.

WINNER: ED BELFOUR, Dallas

RUNNER-UP: OLAF KOLZIG, Washington

The team-wide debacle in Dallas was exacerbated by the Eagle's precipitous plummet. Belfour struggled to reach the 20-win mark after posting 30-plus wins in each of his previous four seasons. And Eddie's save percentage dipped below .900 for the first time in 12 years.

Kolzig's 37-win, 2000-01 season seems like a distant memory. The Capitals' acquisition of stud goalie prospect Maxime Ouellet from Philadelphia suggests the team may soon head in a different direction.

THE JOE MURPHY TROPHY

Awarded to the biggest free-agent flop.

WINNER: PIERRE TURGEON, Dallas

RUNNER-UP: IGOR ULANOV, N.Y.R.

Turgeon topped a list of duds in the Lone Star State. Do the Stars regret lavishing him with a five-year, $32.5 million contract? You betcha. His paltry 15 goals in 66 games would do little to replace the offense of Brett Hull, who defected to Detroit, but might be enough to match the output of Jody Hull.