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

The PHPA Built Tough Award is presented to one player from the ECHL Eastern and Western Conferences who is considered by their peers to be the toughest in their respective conference.  A player who is always there for his teammates and helps make his team one of the most challenging to play against.

ECHL Eastern Conference: Yanick Turcotte, Worcester Railers

For the second consecutive year , Turcotte was voted by his peers as the toughest player to play against in the ECHL Eastern Conference. The Quebec City native dressed in 42 games this season for the Railers where he recorded 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, while adding 186 penalty minutes and 17 fighting majors. Prior to joining the Railers in 2017-18, Turcotte played four seasons in the QMJHL with the Quebec Ramparts where he had 392 penalty minutes in 240 career games.

“It means a lot to me,” said Turcotte on receiving votes from his peers around the league. “It means I’m doing my job right. I try to be hard to play against, always finish my hits on the forecheck, and I think it’s a nice to be recognized for my hard work.  I’d like to thank my teammates and others from around the league for voting for me. I do my job for them so they can have space out there and play with confidence.” 

ECHL Western Conference: Arvin Atwal, Cincinnati Cyclones

The 23-year-old from Surrey, BC suited up 67 times for the Cyclones in 2018-19 notching 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points while adding 256 penalty minutes and plus/minus rating of +47.  In his third season with the Cyclones, the 6’0” 200lbs right shot defenseman has also appeared in 17 games with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans where he recorded 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points while adding 28 penalty minutes. Prior to playing professional hockey, Atwal played four seasons in the WHL where he had a career total of 25 goals, 83 assists and 285 penalty minutes in 225 games played.

“It’s obviously very special to be recognized for this award and means a lot,” said Atwal. “I try not to back away or shy down from a battle no matter who is on the ice or what the situation is. I’ll always have my teammates backs out there because I know they have mine too. Being a defenseman, I just try to be hard to play against and always finish my checks and make it tough for guys in front of the net.”