Every NHL trophy has a history that goes beyond the admirable and, yes, cool tradition of a one and only authentic trophy, no copies handed out. The history of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s best defenseman of the season, is refreshing.
Here’s why. When James Norris died in 1952, he was widely praised as “one of the great Canadians of all time” for his role in building the Detroit franchise into winning entity. During two decades as owner, the Red Wings won five Stanley Cups.
Norris’ rep gets even better: He had trained his daughter Marguerite in the business of hockey and stoked her avid sports fandom from a young age. At 25, Marguerite was named president of the team, a first for women in the NHL. Remember, this is the early 1950s.
