(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce that Keegan Lowe of the San Diego Gulls (AHL) and Shawn Szydlowski of the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) are the inaugural recipients of the PHPA Player Representative of the Year Awards as voted by the PHPA Executive Committee, staff, and Advisors.

The PHPA Player Representative of the Year Awards were developed to recognize the outstanding efforts put forth by PHPA Player Representatives throughout the season from both the American Hockey League and ECHL.  The Awards also serve as a platform to honor the significant contributions made to the PHPA by Founding Member Doug Messier and long-time PHPA Advisor, Jim Wiley. 

“In a season like no other we have ever experienced at our level, it was crucial to have the assistance and support of an outstanding group of Player Representatives from both Leagues,” said PHPA Executive Director, Larry Landon.  “Both Keegan and Shawn demonstrated exceptional leadership and responsiveness throughout the season, as did all of our Player Reps and Executive Committee members, and I am truly appreciative of the dedicated manner in which they embraced this important role on behalf of their teammates.” 

Lowe, who was selected as the recipient of the Doug Messier AHL Player Representative of the Year Award, recently completed his first season with the Gulls and eighth of his pro career.  Born in New York but raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Lowe previously served as a PHPA Player Representative from 2018 – 2020 as a member of the Bakersfield Condors.  He was named Captain of the Condors in 2018, an Assistant Captain while with the Charlotte Checkers, and served as both an Assistant Captain and Captain in junior with the Edmonton Oil Kings where he helped lead the team to the Western Hockey League Championship in 2012. 

The recipient of the T. Jim Wiley ECHL Player Representative of the Year Award, Szydlowski has been a member of the Fort Wayne Komets for the majority of the past eight seasons, serving as the team’s Assistant Captain for the past seven.  From St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Szydlowski has served as the team’s PHPA Player Representative since 2019.  He was also an Assistant Captain for three seasons in junior as a member of the Erie Otters.  In 2018, Szydlowski led the ECHL in scoring and was named ECHL Most Valuable Player.

Both players were selected with the collective input from all PHPA staff, Advisors, and Executive Committee and will be recognized by Landon during the online 2021 PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives.

About the PHPA

Since its inception in 1967, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has continued to serve as an advocate of player interests.  Currently, the PHPA is the certified, U.S. National Labor Relations Board collective bargaining representative for over 1,500 players throughout the American Hockey League and ECHL.  Further, the PHPA continues to serve over 8,000 former PHPA Members through its Alumni Network. Visit PHPA.com, follow the PHPA on Facebook, Twitter (@thephpa), and Instagram (@thephpa), and check out the PHPA Podcast.