The Drive to Win at the NHL All-Star Game

Originally published in the NHL All-Star Game Program in 2004

By Lucas Aykroyd

“Honk If You Love Goals And Assists.” Maybe that’s the bumper sticker they should put on the vehicle awarded annually to the NHL All-Star Game MVP.

Out of the 28 occasions in NHL history when the MVP has scored new wheels, 23 times it’s been a forward who hit top gear on offense.

Only four winners have been goalies who brought their opponents to a screeching halt: Billy Smith (1978), Mike Liut (1981), Grant Fuhr (1986), and Mike Richter (1994). Just one defenseman has revved it into overdrive: the legendary Ray Bourque fired 1996’s deciding goal at his home rink, the FleetCenter in Boston.

Dodge has provided the vehicle for the All-Star MVP since 1998, and its current partnership with the League goes back over eight years. Dodge was also the sponsor when the tradition of awarding a car was inaugurated in 1973.

That year, Pittsburgh’s Greg Polis tallied two goals for the West Team in a 5-4 loss and received the keys to a Dodge Charger. Interestingly, Hockey Night in Canada chose not to broadcast the presentation due to their sponsorship agreement with another major auto manufacturer.

There was no conflict of interest for the 1974 MVP. St. Louis center Garry Unger worked for Dodge-Chrysler during the off-season. “It’s a good thing this was a Chrysler product because it means I can drive it,” Unger beamed after his two-point effort.

1976 winner Pete Mahovlich showed a different kind of business savvy. He sold his new car and split the profits with his five fellow All-Stars from the Montreal Canadiens.

Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders stickhandled his way to marital bliss when he gave his 1982 MVP car to his wife. “My wife doesn’t drive, but she said she was going to learn to drive if I won the car,” explained the perennial 50-goal scorer.

The following year, a Great archrival of Bossy’s perpetrated the most notorious auto theft in All-Star history, right in the Nassau Coliseum.

Vancouver goalie John Garrett withstood a Wales Conference barrage in the second period, and he looked destined for 1983 MVP honors. But Campbell teammate Lanny McDonald summed things up after the game: “I think John was up to the glove compartment, a horn and two tires when Wayne Gretzky took over.”

Gretzky popped a record-setting four goals in the third period to steal the car from Garrett. McDonald joked that perhaps the Great One would let the unfortunate netminder ride in the back seat.

As a rule, Gretzky played Robin Hood with the cars he won at All-Star Games or for other achievements, giving them away to family and teammates. Dave Semenko, dubbed “Gretzky’s bodyguard” when they were linemates with Edmonton, got a nice surprise from his old friend after the 1989 All-Star tilt.

There was only one vehicle Gretzky decided to keep for himself: the Dodge Durango he earned as the 1999 All-Star Game MVP. It was three months before he would announce his retirement, and the New York Ranger veteran attached sentimental value to his prize as he reminisced about his career: “It’s kind of like a trophy to me. I want to have it, and I want to remember this.”

Now, not everyone automatically gets misty-eyed about this whole tradition. Before the 1998 showcase, the Edmonton Sun reported that Teemu Selanne “asked about the car for the MVP and seemed slightly disappointed to find out that this year’s prize was a truck.” Why? The Finnish Flash is a noted auto connoisseur whose tastes run more toward exotic sports cars.

But Selanne was flashing his trademark smile afterwards when he became the first European in League history to capture MVP honors.

The high-scoring winger kidded before the 2000 All-Star Game: “If it’s a Viper, I might try a little harder.” (No luck this time, as the Dakota Quad Cab went to hat-trick hero Pavel Bure.)

Selanne’s quip reflects the value of awarding the car each year. It’s one way to get the competitive juices flowing for a game that doesn’t count in the NHL standings. As pros, these players are accustomed to having something at stake. It’s all about the drive to win.

And if it comes with a comfortable, roomy interior, superior handling, and a powerful eight-cylinder engine, so much the better.