The Professional Hockey Players Association is proud to announce that, as a part of the union’s annual meetings, Michael DiPietro and Marcus Crawford have been honored as the inaugural recipients of the PHPA’s Doug Messier Award.

This award will now be presented annually to the ‘Most Outstanding Player’ in each of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the ECHL, as voted by fellow members of the PHPA.

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.

“Doug Messier’s significant contributions to the PHPA and professional hockey cannot be overstated,” said PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay. “This award celebrates the characteristics he embodied throughout his career and recognizes players who have distinguished themselves both on and off the ice.”

Ramsay continued, “Michael and Marcus are both incredibly deserving recipients of this honor, and we join our membership in celebrating their extraordinary achievements this season.”

DiPietro, a goaltender with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, finished the regular season with a record of 34-8-1 while leading the AHL in save percentage (.930) and goals-against average (1.91). His league-best 34 wins helped Providence capture the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s regular season champions. Earlier this year, DiPietro was also presented with the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL MVP, the Baz Bastien Award as the most outstanding goaltender, and was named a First-Team AHL All-Star.

“Playing a team sport, I never was looking for individual praise but I am truly honored to receive this award. Being selected by my fellow PHPA members means a lot to me given the journey I’ve been on during my career. I’ve always prioritized being a good teammate and good person above all else. This award will be cherished by my family and I for years to come,” said DiPietro.

Crawford registered 86 points with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks to become the first defenseman to lead the league in scoring, while also posting league-leading totals in assists (72) and power play points (39). His historic season resulted in him being named the ECHL’s Most Valuable Player and Defenseman of the Year.

“This is a special award that I’m grateful to receive. It means a lot to be recognized by the players around the league and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of my teammates and family. It’s a huge honor,” said Crawford.