The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League hockey player voted to have shown the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with performance in play. The winner tends to be favoured by peers for leadership and on-ice conduct. To choose a winner, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association conducts a poll at the end of the regular season.

The trophy is named in honour of Lady Byng , wife of Viscount Byng of Vimy, a Vimy Ridge war hero who was the Governor-General of Canada in 1925. Lord and Lady Byng were big sports fans, with a special interest in ice hockey. Lord Byng rarely missed an Ottawa Senators game and Lady Byng frequently accompanied him. Lady Byng presented the first Lady Byng Trophy in 1925.

After New York Rangers player Frank Boucher won the award seven times in eight years, he was given the trophy to keep. Lady Byng donated a second trophy in 1936.

When Lady Byng died in 1949, the NHL presented another trophy and changed the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Some consider it telling that the NHL is the only professional sports association with an award for sportsmanship. Although violence in sports is not uncommon, NHL violence has warranted special attention, with a few players being investigated, charged, and convicted for their on-ice antics.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Winners

• 2005, no winner
• 2004, Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003, Alexander Mogilny, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 2002, Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2001, Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
• 2000, Pavol Demitra, St. Louis Blues
• 1999, Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
• 1998, Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1997, Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1996, Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1995, Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1994, Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1993, Pierre Turgeon, New York Islanders
• 1992, Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1991, Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1990, Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
• 1989, Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
• 1988, Mats Naslund, Montreal Canadiens
• 1987, Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
• 1986, Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1985, Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984, Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1983, Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1982, Rick Middleton , Boston Bruins
• 1981, Rick Kehoe, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1980, Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• 1979, Bob MacMillan , Atlanta Flames
• 1978, Butch Goring , Los Angeles Kings
• 1977, Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings
• 1976, Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers/Boston Bruins
• 1975, Marcel Dionne, Detroit Red Wings
• 1974, John Bucyk , Boston Bruins
• 1973, Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
• 1972, Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers
• 1971, John Bucyk , Boston Bruins
• 1970, Phil Goyette , St. Louis Blues
• 1969, Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1968, Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1967, Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1966, Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965, Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1964, Ken Wharram , Chicago Blackhawks
• 1963, Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1962, Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1961, Red Kelly, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1960, Don McKenney , Boston Bruins
• 1959, Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1958, Camille Henry, New York Rangers
• 1957, Andy Hebenton , New York Rangers
• 1956, Earl Reibel , Detroit Red Wings
• 1955, Sid Smith , Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1954, Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1953, Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1952, Sid Smith , Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1951, Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1950, Edgar Laprade , New York Rangers
• 1949, Bill Quackenbush , Detroit Red Wings
• 1948, Buddy O'Connor , New York Rangers
• 1947, Bobby Bauer , Boston Bruins
• 1946, Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
• 1945, Bill Mosienko , Chicago Blackhawks
• 1944, Clint Smith , Chicago Blackhawks
• 1943, Max Bentley , Chicago Blackhawks
• 1942, Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1941, Bobby Bauer , Boston Bruins
• 1940, Bobby Bauer , Boston Bruins
• 1939, Clint Smith , New York Rangers
• 1938, Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1937, Marty Barry , Detroit Red Wings
• 1936, Doc Romnes , Chicago Blackhawks
• 1935, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1934, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1933, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1932, Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1931, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1930, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1929, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1928, Frank Boucher , New York Rangers
• 1927, Billy Burch , New York Americans
• 1926, Frank Nighbor , Ottawa Senators
• 1925, Frank Nighbor , Ottawa Senators

See also

• Violence in sports | NHL violence