This award was given to Neal Broten by Jofa/Titan in 1996. The Minnesota North Stars selected Broten in the 3rd round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Broten, a native of Roseau, MN was a key member of the celebrated 1980 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winning ‘Do you believe in Miracles’ squad. After skating for the University of Minnesota and winning a National Championship and the Hobey Baker Award, Neal joined his hometown Minnesota North Stars and, as a rookie, played in his first of three Stanley Cup Finals. Neal hails as the greatest Minnesota born player in NHL history and is a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1985-86, Broten became the first American born player to score 100 points in a season with a 105 point effort. Broten tallied 923 points over the course of his 1099 game 17-year NHL career. He was also the first player in the history of sport to win a championship at the collegiate, professional and Olympic levels.

In 1994-95, after spending 15 seasons with the Minnesota/Dallas franchise, Broten joined the New Jersey Devils and provided that missing veteran leadership as they went onto win their first ever Stanley Cup title. Neal spent parts of 3 seasons in New Jersey, a partial year with the Kings and then 20 more games with the Stars where he scored 8 goals and 15 points as he wrapped up his NHL career. A year after retiring, the Dallas Stars honored Broten by retiring his player number 7. This iconic Gold Medal winner and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer was a two-time NHL All Star and was the recipient of the 1998 Lester Patrick Trophy.

This trophy measures approx. 9 inches high and 5 inches around. Three hockey sticks form a pyramid at the top with the USA Hockey player sitting on the base. The inscription reads “1996 Jofa Titan USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award – Neal Broten – Awarded Annually to a United States Citizen Who Has Made – Outstanding Contributions to the Sport of Hockey in America”.