The National Hockey League today has announced that the late Rejean "Ray" Shero '84, former captain of the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team, has been posthumously named the recipient of the 2025 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Shero, who will be posthumously inducted into the Legends of Appleton on the weekend of November 14-15, will be formally honored with the Lester Patrick Trophy as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration on December 10 in Saint Paul.

The annual award, one of the most prestigious in hockey, was presented to the National Hockey League by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach, and general manager and was a pioneer in the sport's development.

"Ray Shero's legacy as an NHL executive is immortalized by the engraving of his name on the Stanley Cup and the success of the players he scouted, drafted, and traded for in Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Ottawa, Nashville, and Minnesota," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "His contributions to growing the game in the United States are similarly noteworthy and extensive – from captaining his team at St. Lawrence University to helping assemble 13 U.S. World Championships teams to serving as an associate general manager for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team."

"However, his true legacy will be as a man who embodied the best of our game: fierce competition on the ice and welcoming fellowship off the ice. Widely respected throughout hockey for his team-building acumen and eye for talent, he was even more beloved for how he treated everyone fortunate enough to have known him."

Shero, who had a decorated career at St. Lawrence as a team captain for the Skating Saints, embarked on an extraordinary professional career that began as an NHL player agent for the Sports Consulting Group. He built a successful agency representing numerous professional players and was among the first to represent college hockey players for over seven years. Shero stayed in the role until 1993, when he was hired by fellow Skating Saint alumnus Randy Sexton '82 as an assistant general manager by the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

Shero's career continued its upward trajectory as assistant general manager of the Nashville Predators, a role that prepared him to be named General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006. Anchored by players signed and drafted by Ray, the Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in game seven to claim the Stanley Cup in 2009, the city's first NHL title in 17 years. The triumph allowed Ray to hoist the Cup like his father, Fred, did as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975.

Shero later served as general manager of the New Jersey Devils from 2015 until 2020. He was also actively involved with USA Hockey, was a member of its National Team Advisory Board, and served as associate general manager for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. His wealth of knowledge and experience led him to the Minnesota Wild, where he most recently served as senior advisor to the general manager, Bill Guerin, before his passing.

Past winners of the Lester Patrick Trophy include Sam Rosen (2024), Joe Bertagna (2023), Warren Strelow (2022), Jack Barzee (2021), Lynn Olson (2020), Dr. Jack Blatherwick (2019), Jim Johansson (2018), Peter Lindberg & Dave Ogrean (2017), Mark Howe & Patrick J. Kelly (2016), Jeremy Jacobs & Bob Crocker (2015), and Bill Daly & Paul Holmgren (2014). Ray Shero's father, Fred Shero, was honored with the 1980 Lester Patrick Trophy. For the full list of Lester Patrick Trophy recipients, please click here.