The PHPA introduced the addition of the Doug Messier Award at the union’s annual meetings with the inaugural recipients named last week in Kansas City Mavericks defenseman Marcus Crawford and Providence Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro.

The award is presented to the ‘Most Outstanding Player’ in each of the American Hockey League and the ECHL, as voted by fellow members of the PHPA.

Crawford, 29, led the entire ECHL in scoring with 86 points (14 goals, 72 assists) in 70 games – marking the first time in the league’s history that a defenseman finished a season leading the league in scoring.

“It’s a special award. To be selected amongst the players voting on it, it’s pretty cool to be recognized that way,” Crawford said of being named the inaugural recipient of the award. “It’s a huge honor.”

Crawford and the Mavericks followed up a 2024-25 campaign that saw them fall in the Conference Finals round with a trip to the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals, with the defenseman racking up another 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in the postseason to make it 100 combined points on the year.

“Just kind of the same approach I’ve had for a number of years,” Crawford said when asked what led to the offensive surge this past season. “[I] just try to be as consistent as I can, and be ready to play every game.”

While the Kelly Cup Finals loss still stings, the winning culture created in Kansas City looks to continue in 2026-27 and beyond with Crawford hopeful the returning players will be able to build upon this past season’s run to the Finals.

“Always trying to improve and build. We learned a lot this year. It’s still kind of heartbreaking. It’s going to sting for a while, but for the guys that are going to come back it’s going to be fuel, and we’re going to be ready for the next run at it.”

DiPietro, 27, continued to build upon strong seasons in Providence with 2025-26 seeing him have career best single season numbers for wins (34), goals-against average (1.91) and save percentage (.930).

Despite being in his seventh season at the professional level, DiPietro continues to find ways to improve both on and off the ice, striving for excellence and clearly his peers across the AHL have taken notice.

“To be voted by your peers in PHPA for this award, it means a lot,” DiPietro said of being named the inaugural recipient of the Doug Messier Award. “Obviously we play the sport because we love it and hopefully make a positive impact for the next generation, but it was obviously such a cool feeling and something I was able to share with my family. It really means a lot to me.”

For DiPietro, winning the Doug Messier Award this summer caused him to sit back for a minute and look back through his career up to this point.

“Obviously, I love the sport. For me, finding love with the game again these past few years and truly just feeling comfortable on the ice, just being where my feet are instead of looking too far ahead,” DiPietro explained of how a shift in focus put his game on the right track. “I think the AHL is such a nuanced league, where you have to be where your feet are, but everybody is looking to move up. I think everybody’s trying to make it to the NHL, everybody has aspiration in doing that, but it was only when I was just thankful to be where I was and where I am that I was able to really start truly enjoying myself.”

He noted a specific point four years ago when things weren’t going as well as he would have hoped, and dark thoughts began to enter his head after his third full season in the AHL.

Was this something he was meant to do?

Should he keep trying, and keep chasing his dream?

“It takes a lot of sacrifice to chase a dream and obviously I’m still chasing it, but receiving this award it means a lot because at the end of the day, at the end of your career, I would say people’s knowledge is very limited on how many points you had, how many wins you had,” DiPietro said. “They just remember what kind of person you are and what kind of teammate you are, and that’s always at the forefront and what I take pride in.”

About the Doug Messier Award

A founding member of the PHPA, Doug Messier was among the players who recognized the need for better protections for professional hockey players. He helped lead the effort to form a players’ association in the Western Hockey League in 1967, which evolved into the PHPA when players from the AHL joined the movement the following year. His vision and commitment to collective representation established a legacy that continues to strengthen and support the lives of professional hockey players today. 

Recipients of this award will exemplify excellence, professionalism, and the kind of character that earns the respect of their peers; qualities that reflect Doug’s enduring impact on the game.

Click here to view the official press release.