While Boko Imama was born and raised in Montreal, a passionate hockey city, his family had a lot to learn about the sport after moving there from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.
Boko’s father had studied in Quebec when he was around 19-20 years old, and after marrying Boko’s mother, they relocated there to start their family.
The fact that their son is a professional hockey player is still surreal to them. So, when the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association selected Imama as this year’s team nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy – awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey – they actually couldn’t believe it.
“They asked me the same question, like, you are a nominee for an NHL award?! I was like, yes. (Then they) asked again and asked again, and I had to kept on confirming that, yes, this was going on. So, they're very excited as well, very honored, and it’s just fun,” Boko said with a smile. “For me, I'm just living out my dream, and to be able to have this type of recognition is definitely nice.
“I just feel like there's always blocks on the road and you just got to find a way to keep pushing through them. I just feel like that's been my model since I started playing pro, and that's how I've been finding my success.”
Fellow Montreal native Kris Letang is a four-time Penguins nominee, and won the award in 2023 after suffering the second stroke of his career and the passing of his father. He knows better than most what the criteria means, and feels strongly that Imama is deserving.
“First of all, I don't think you can find a more positive person. Every single day, he addresses every single one of his teammates. In the morning, he comes in with an attitude to get better and work,” Letang said.
“And obviously, we all know how hard his job is, to have to go out there and face the music every single time. He wants to be there for his teammates. What he does on the ice is just incredible. The attitude that he has every single day coming to the rink, it's contagious around the room.”
"Boko is incredible," Rutger McGroarty told me, lighting up at the opportunity to speak about Imama. "He's a guy that I can't say enough nice things about. He is the most genuine, down to earth, greatest human that I've ever played with. He cares for his teammates. He cares for people. He loves super hard. He's also just a really funny guy, but he also has a seriousness to him too, like in the locker room before games, talking on the bench, everything. He's definitely one of my favorite players that I've ever played with, and I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to play with him."
Some might push back at the idea of giving a player whose role often involves punching another man in the face an award that is meant to recognize sportsmanship as one of its three values. But for Imama, his role is all about sportsmanship.
"You're sacrificing yourself for the better of the team, right?" he said. "You're not just looking at what benefits you. You sacrifice a little bit more, maybe, to put the team in the best position. That's pretty much how I see it."
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