(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015-16 PHPA Best Defensive Defenseman Award as voted by the player Membership of the PHPA. 

The PHPA Best Defensive Defenseman Award is presented to one defenseman from the American Hockey League’s Eastern and Western Conferences and one defenseman from the ECHL’s Eastern and Western Conferences, whose offensive output or statistics may not necessarily reflect the significance of his consistent defensive contributions to the team.

ECHL Eastern Conference: Joey Leach, South Carolina Stingrays

Joey Leach posted a career high 6 goals and 11 assists in 58 regular season games with the South Carolina Stingrays, including 122 penalty minutes and finishing with a league-leading +40.  The 6’4 Calgary Flames draft pick helped lead the Stingrays to the second best record in the Eastern Conference standings where the team allowed the fewest goals against in the Conference.  Leach also appeared in 6 games with the Hershey Bears this season, registering 3 assists, 7 penalty minutes, and showing +5.  Prior to turning pro, Leach spent four seasons with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice winning the WHL Championship in 2011 and finishing a combined +94 over those four years.

“To be recognized by my peers and fellow teammates and teams I played against for this award feels very special,” said Leach.  “I don’t put up the most points, but I pride myself on my defensive play and that’s what I look forward to doing every night.”

ECHL Western Conference: Corbin Baldwin, Idaho Steelheads

Corbin Baldwin posted three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 72 games with the Steelheads this season, adding 75 penalty minutes and finishing an impressive +28.  The Steelheads allowed the second fewest goals against of any Western Conference team during the regular season.  The 6’5”, 220 pound blue-liner from Winnipeg, Manitoba made his professional debut in 2012-13 with the Orlando Solar Bears, and helped the Allen Americans capture the Central Hockey League Ray Miron President’s Cup later that season.

“It’s obviously an honor to be recognized by the players that you go out and battle against all year long, and to know that they respect how you play and notice those little things which is a pretty big honor,” said Baldwin.

AHL Eastern Conference: Andrew Campbell, Toronto Marlies

Andrew Campbell was named Captain of a young Toronto Marlies squad that finished first overall in League standings.  The 6’4 native of Caledonia, Ontario posted 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 66 games played, including 72 penalty minutes, finishing a staggering +39.  He was also named the Marlies’ IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the Toronto community.  A third round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2008, Campbell made his NHL debut with the Kings on April 5^th, 2014 after spending six full seasons with the Manchester Monarchs, and skated in 6 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2015-16 season.

“I take pride in playing hard defensively and doing whatever it takes to prevent goals from going in our net, which is a large part of my role and responsibility when I’m the ice so it’s nice to be recognized for my defensive play,” said Campbell.  “It’s always something special when your fellow peers, the people that you compete against night after night recognize you so this is a pretty cool honor.”

AHL Western Conference: Jeff Schultz, Ontario Reign

A first round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 2004, Jeff Schultz posted 3 goals and 15 assists in 66 regular season games, finishing +17 to help the Ontario Reign earn the best point percentage in the entire Western Conference while allowing the fewest goals in the entire league during the regular season.  The 6’6” native of Calgary, Alberta made his professional debut with the Hershey Bears during the 2005-06 playoffs where he captured his first of two Calder Cup Championships.  Schultz made his NHL debut with the Capitals on December 22^nd, 2006 and has since recorded 11 goals and 65 assists over 409 NHL games.  In 2009-10, Schultz led the NHL in the plus-minus statistical category with an astonishing +50 rating. He also set a record during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs by being on the ice for a post-season record 119 consecutive minutes without being scored upon. Schultz was recalled to the Los Angeles Kings during the 2014 playoffs, helping the team win the Stanley Cup. The following year, Schultz captured his second AHL Calder Cup title with the Manchester Monarchs in 2015.

“The AHL is a great league with a lot of future NHL stars, and to be recognized by my peers for this award is a great honor,” said Schultz.  “But I need to give credit to the team that I’m playing for and my defense partners out there, I couldn’t do it without them.  I just try to keep my game simple and do whatever the team needs me to do, whether its penalty killing, blocking shots, 5 on 5 play, I’m just willing to do whatever role is given to me.”