(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 PHPA Heart, Hustle, Desire Award as voted by ECHL players. 

The Heart, Hustle, Desire Award is presented to one player from the ECHL Eastern and Western Conferences who is considered by their peers to be the hardest working player in their respective League’s Conference, demonstrating heart, hustle, and desire each and every night, both on and off the ice.

ECHL Eastern Conference: Joe Cox, Florida Everblades

In 62 games with the Florida Everblades, the Chelsea, Michigan native notched 27 goals and 32 assists for 62 points and 16 penalty minutes. In addition, the 6’0, 176 lbs forward finished the season with a plus-minus of +46 earning him the ECHL Performer of the Year award.  Cox, made his AHL debut this season suiting up nine times with the Laval Rocket where he scored 2 goals and added 2 assists.

“I think player voted awards are some of the most important awards. Those are the guys you compete against day in and day out, and to see that they hold you in a high esteem is the aspect that really means a lot to me,” said Cox. “Every night when I go into a game, I try to break it down shift by shift and just try to make an impact every time I’m out there.”

ECHL Western Conference: Nate Mitton, Cincinnati Cyclones

In his first full ECHL season, the Kitchener, Ontario native had 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points, including 30 penalty minutes and a +4 plus/minus rating in 32 games played with the Cyclones. Prior to turning professional, Mitton spent four years playing at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology where he recorded 29 points over 102 career games played.

“I think it’s very humbling to be honest.  Just looking at my team in Cincinnati, the commitment and dedication of my teammates, there are so many deserving guys. I had a lot of great teammates and I had a great coaching staff in Matt Thomas and Jason Payne who believed in me and gave me an opportunity was huge for me,” said Mitton on what it means to receive the Heart, Hustle, Desire Award. “I’m passionate about the game and I think guys see that and know that.”