The Messier Project and hockey icon Mark Messier — the only NHL player to captain two different teams to the Stanley Cup — are proud to recognize an outstanding and up-and-coming young junior hockey captain.

Forward Conor Lemirande, 19, of the Janesville Jets is the 2012-2013 recipient of  The Messier Project Leadership Award for the North American Hockey League (NAHL).The Messier Project Leadership Award was established in 2010-11, and recognizes the NAHL player who best exemplifies strong leadership both on and off the ice. 

Lemirande, a native of Janesville, Wis., has been a rock-solid cornerstone for the Jets 

on the ice and in their community. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward recorded 21 points

(nine goals, 12 assists) and 127 penalty minutes in 54 games during 2012-13, his second

NAHL season and second with the Jets. He has established himself as a selfless leader

 who never hesitates to stand up for his team and teammates.

“Conor is the player you hate to play against, but love to have on your team,” Jets coach Joe Dibble said. “He’s a big power forward who can skate, shoot and play physical.

“He has been the leader of our team since Day One. He’s a very positive young man who leads by example with his work ethic on and off the ice.”

But there’s much more to Lemirande’s story than hockey.

NAHL players range in age from 16 to 20, and generally have more-structured and

more-demanding personal schedules than most young people. On top of his hockey

responsibilities with the Jets, Lemirande averaged almost 15 hours of community

service per month in his hometown during the 2012-13 NAHL campaign, and he

has continued to work with causes in the area following the season. He also actively

encourages his teammates to get involved with a wide variety of initiatives in

Janesville, a city of 65,000 in southern Wisconsin.

“Conor completely embodies the spirit of The Messier Project Leadership Award,”

said Messier, who played on six Stanley Cup winning teams. “As a selfless player,

Conor earned the respect of his teammates on the ice, but maybe more importantly,

he has used the game of hockey as a vehicle to become a role model, and a wonderful

contributing member of our society. 

“I congratulate Conor for an outstanding season, and his efforts to lead off the ice for so many worthwhile causes.”

Lemirande’s community engagement has included:

• Helping his team raise $4,000 for the Salvation Army, including by ringing bells during the holiday season, to help families in the community.
• Collecting toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program.
•  Raising funds and awareness for Janesville-based Mercy Health Systems’ cancer awareness initiatives, including as part of a “Skaters as Waiters” benefit.
•  As part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lemirande was a “big brother” for the entire season and mentored youngster in sports, helped with homework and served as a role model.
• Volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville, where he was a “lunch buddy” for elementary age children.

“This is the type of player we want in Janesville,” Dibble said. “We want great character great work ethic and players who understand that there is more to playing junior hockey than just going to the rink.

“Conor is a true example of that. He is a great face of our organization in and around the city of Janesville."

The Messier Project, which was acquired by Bauer Performance Sports last year, is currently the NAHL’s Official Helmet Supplier. 

The NAHL is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league and boasts 24 teams from across North America. The league prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. For more information on the NAHL, visit www.NAHL.com. 

Conor Lemirande in action for the Janesville Jets in an M11 PRO helmet.

The “Captain” — Mark Messier — along with 1972 Summit Series hero Paul Henderson and former Team Canada coach Dave King were awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a ceremony on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill on April 8. 

It was the second year the honor has been presented by Hockey Canada. In 2012, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jean Béliveau, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, and Gordon Renwick were awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada, which celebrates people who have made an extraordinary contribution to the sport in Canada.

Harper took part in a hockey "hotstove" discussion with Mark, Henderson, King and TSN's Gord Miller, asking questions about the trio's successes on the international stage with Team Canada.

Mark is the only player to captain two teams to the Stanley Cup, winning with Edmonton in 1990 and the New York Rangers in 1994, after winning four Stanley Cups with an Oilers team captained by Gretzky in the 1980s. He has also played a management role with Team Canada.

Mark also was recognized for his leadership in promoting player safety and respect for the game, including his work with The Messier Project. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2013/apr/09/mark-messier-order-canada-hockey-concussion

Henderson scored the game-winning goal in the last game against Russia in 1972's epic Summit Series, winning the series for Canada. He also scored the game-winning goals in the sixth and seventh games of the series.

King is one of Canada’s most decorated coaches, leading teams at the winter Olympics, IIHF World Championships and IIHF World Junior Championships. 

From right, PM Stephen Harper, Mark Messier, Dave King, Paul Henderson and TSN's Gord Miller.

The North American Hockey League calls itself “The League of Opportunity,” and it’s living up to that claim again this year.

Two members of the Harvard University Crimson, a pilot team in The Messier Project’s helmets, recently signed pro contracts.

Senior captain Danny Biega agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, who had picked him in third round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Biega then was assigned to the Hurricanes’ top minor league affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.

For more information, visit: 

http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mice/2012-13/releases/IHM130314BiegaSigns

Senior Alex Fallstrom signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. Fallstrom was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild and had his rights traded to the Bruins later that year.

For more information visit:

http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/mice/2012-13/releases/IHM130317FallstromSigns

Harvard was the first college team to wear the M11 beginning in 2009. The Crimson then became the first university program to switch to the M11 PRO, in early 2012.

Both Biega (top photo and Fallstrom (lower photo) are pictured below in the M11 PRO, which has been customized with the lettering “HARVARD” across the front. 

Anthony Stefano, a high-scoring forward on the Midget AAA Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) North Stars has a bright future in the game.  

According to an article in the Sault Star, Stefano has an offer to play with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL or could cross the bridge and play NCAA hockey with the Lake Superior State Lakers.  

http://www.saultstar.com/2013/01/22/stefano-faces-tough-decision

Whatever his choice, we know Anthony has been in the right helmet, an M11 PRO (see below), along with his North Star teammates.

By the way, the Soo North Stars will host the 2013 Telus Cup AAA Midget Hockey Tournament in April.

Check out the next evolution of the M11 and M11 PRO helmets at the Let's Play Hockey Expo at the RiverCentre in St. Paul on March 8-9 at the BAUER HOCKEY booth.  

Bauer, Cascade Sports and The Messier Project have combined forces to make two great helmets even better. Players in the State of Hockey will be among the first to see the results — the new IMS 11.0 and IMS 7.0, both with Seven Technology.

The Hill-Murray Pioneers and Wayzata Trojans will collide in the Class 2A semifinals of the Minnesota State Hockey School Boys Hockey Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul today.

The Pioneers were one of the first teams to wear the M11 PRO helmet. The Trojans are in the M11.

Wayzata scored late in regulation of its quarterfinal game against Centennial to tie it, then won in overtime to advance to the semis.  See the story at: http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/236020?referrer_id=32760

Wayzata's Jalen Wahl (18) tied the game with just over a minute left in regulation as the Trojans rallied to win in their Class 2A quarterfinal game in the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament..

Hill-Murray beat Eastview 6-3 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis. Read details at:

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/236439?referrer_id=32770

The Acadia University Axemen just finished a solid 2012-13 season as one of the pilot Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) teams in the M11 PRO.  

Read more at: http://hockey.acadiau.ca/hockey-news-reader-page/items/huskies-squeeze-out-win-to-advance.html

Pictured below in the M11 PRO is Acadia leading scorer and CIS Player of the Year Andrew Clark.

Dani Cameranesi, a senior forward and captain of The Blake School girl's hockey team, had a huge week.

First, Cameranesi helped lead Blake, a co-ed college prep school in Minneapolis, to its fourth Minnesota Class A State Championship. Then she was named the winner of the 18th annual Ms. Hockey Award by the Let's Play Hockey newspaper.

The award, presented to the top girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota, is based on academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship, coachability and on-ice performance.

Considered one of the top young female hockey players in North America, Cameranesi will play next season for the University of Minnesota. As a senior with Blake, she had 57 goals and 38 assists in 27 games.  She posted 23 multi-point and 19 multi-goal games, 12 hat tricks, and nine games with five or more points.

And she did it all in an M11 helmet from The Messier Project.

“Dani is the most impactful player I have coached in my 15 years of coaching at all levels from youth to college hockey,” Blake head coach Shawn Reid said. “No player is as dominant as she has been every game this year. Every game she is surrounded by two or three opponents and yet she is able to maneuver around them with her speed, skill and strength to score goals or set up teammates.

"Dani is the quintessential leader on and off the ice in practices and games,” Reid added. “She is the consummate team player and is an incredible role model for our younger players. Dani is the kind of person and player that every coach wants others to emulate.”

Read more about Cameranesi at: http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/022413aaa.html

Eleven young hockey players from across Ontario — from Wawa to Harrow to Trenton — have won sleek new custom M11 PRO helmets as part of The Messier Project’s partnership with the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario’s (HDCO) 2013 Penalty Free Sweepstakes.

The winners of the Penalty Free Messier Project Leadership Award were nominated by their coaches and selected in a random draw. The players also will receive a special message from Mark, a family pass to the Hockey Hall of Fame and a McDonald’s Mac-a-Month for a Year voucher.

The Messier Project is proud to support the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario’s (HDCO) 2013 Penalty Free Sweepstakes and its mission to encourage skills, safety and sportsmanship in amateur hockey across the province. The Messier Project shares the HDCO’s commitment to protect the more than 400,000 amateur hockey players in Ontario and its mission to promote fair play, values, skill development, and safety.