RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes captain Ron Francis won the NHL Foundation Player Award and its $25,000 grant for his charity work with children. Among his activities are the Ron Francis Night Out program, which allows sick children at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham and their parents to have dinner and watch a Hurricanes game from a luxury box. After the game, Francis meets them in the locker room. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by the NHL for doing something that is so meaningful to me,” said Francis, who helped lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships. “Many of the children I’ve met over the years have inspired me — as a person and as a hockey player — to be the best I can be, both on and off the ice.” The 39-year-old Francis also has served as chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Special Olympics Summer Games and is on the board of the Carolina Kids ‘n Community Foundation. Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig won the award last year.

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