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

The PHPA Unsung Hero Award is presented to one player from the American Hockey League’s Eastern and Western Conferences and one player from the ECHL’s Eastern and Western Conferences, who exhibits outstanding and consistent play yet often does not receive the recognition typically bestowed upon other players. His contributions often fly under the radar yet are noticed and appreciated by his teammates and peers throughout the league

ECHL Eastern Conference: Mike Bergin, Adirondack Thunder

Drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2008, Mike Bergin posted 3 goals and 5 assists to go along with 75 penalty minutes, finishing an impressive +12 in 55 games during his first season with the Adirondack Thunder and second in the ECHL.  Prior to making his professional debut, the 6’3 defenseman from Ottawa, Ontario attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where he spent four years with the Engineers, serving as team captain and leading the team with 75 penalty minutes during his senior year.  Bergin was also named recipient of the Adirondack Thunder’s Unsung Hero Award.

ECHL Western Conference: Rocco Carzo, Missouri Mavericks

Rocco Carzo posted an impressive 15 goals and 41 assists and finished +17 in 69 games, helping the Missouri Mavericks clinch first place overall in the League’s regular season standings.  The 6’1 forward from Media, Pennsylvania also played one game for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL earlier this season.  Playing in his third full season in ECHL, Carzo helped lead the Mavs into the post-season where he recorded 10 points in 10 games.  Prior to making his professional debut, Carzo played four years at the University of Massachusetts, serving as the team’s Co-Captain during his senior year.

“I’m honored to receive this type of recognition from not only my teammates, but from players on opposing teams,” said Carzo.  “Our team was great this year and I couldn’t have done anything that I did this year without the other guys on the team.  So this award may be presented to me but I feel it’s won by the whole team as well.”

AHL Eastern Conference: Rod Pelley, Albany Devils

As Captain of the Albany Devils, Rod Pelley led his team to a second place overall finish in the Eastern Conference regular season standings.  The centerman from Kitimat, British Columbia posted 8 goals, 5 assists and recorded 40 penalty minutes over 65 games during the regular season, providing veteran leadership to a young Devils squad which advanced to the Conference semi finals during the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.  Pelley has spent the past three seasons with the Albany Devils and has played in over 500 professional games, including 256 games in the NHL split between New Jersey and Anaheim.

“It’s a great honor to receive this award, especially from my peers, teammates, and opponents from around the league,” said Pelley.  “I respect my opponents very much and always try to play a hard, honest game against them.  I take a lot of pride in it being a younger leader for a group that was an especially young team, and I always work hard and provide those little details of the game like face-offs and blocked shots that sometimes can go unnoticed.”

AHL Western Conference: Brennan Evans, Texas Stars

No stranger to winning championships having captured the Memorial Cup with the Kootenay Ice in 2002 as well as a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013, Brennan Evans signed with the Texas Stars during the off-season, and collected 3 assists to go along with 46 penalty minutes in 36 regular season games.  The 34-year old defenseman from North Battleford, Saskatchewan has appeared in 870 AHL games to date, providing veteran leadership to the Texas Stars while mentoring young Dallas Stars defense prospects Esa Lindell and Stephen Johns among others.  Evans made his NHL debut on April 27^th, 2004 with the Calgary Flames in a 3-2 playoff win against the Detroit Red Wings.

“When something is given to you from your peers I think that goes a long way and being the kind of player that I am, you don’t always get a lot of attention or awards like this so it’s definitely pretty special,” said Evans.  “This past season was my last year and it’s pretty cool to get this type of recognition on my way out.”