New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic received the NHL Foundation Player Award Tuesday in Las Vegas.

The 26-year-old St. Malo native, who was just 10 years old when his father Gerald passed away after suffering a heart attack on the family farm, has bonded with more than 200 children who have lost a parent at a young age through his D-Partner Program.

The former Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner has spent more than $50,000 hosting D-Partner Program participants at Islanders homes games while providing rink-side seats, VIP treatment and meet-and-greets.

The award is given to an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey, commitment, perseverance and teamwork, to enrich the lives of people in his community.

Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers was the other finalist for the award.

Hamonic, who is the 20th recipient of the NHL Foundation Player Award, was chosen by the Islanders in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft and has recorded 26 goals and 120 assists in 444 games during his seven seasons with New York.