(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce that Byron Froese of the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) and Cédric Montminy of the Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL) have been selected as the recipients of the PHPA Player Representative of the Year Awards for the 2023-24 season as voted by the PHPA staff.

The PHPA Player Representative of the Year Awards was developed to recognize the outstanding effort 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 who passed away in December, 2021.

Froese, who was selected as the recipient of the Doug Messier AHL Player Representative of the Year Award, is a veteran of 141 NHL games and over 500 AHL games spanning across 13 seasons.  He has fulfilled the role of Henderson’s PHPA Player Rep for the past two seasons.  Born in Winkler, Manitoba, Froese assumed the role of Assistant Captain upon joining the Silver Knights in 2022.  Prior to that, he served as Captain of the Stockton Heat from 2019 to 2022 and Captain of the Laval Rocket from 2017-2019.  Although Froese split time this season in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights, he remained committed to serving his Silver Knights teammates as their Player Rep. 

Montminy, honored with the T. Jim Wiley ECHL Player Representative of the Year Award, concluded his second season as Player Rep for the Lions following the retirement of long-time Rep and Executive Committee Member Mathieu Brodeur.  For the past three seasons, Montminy has served as Captain of the Lions and previously was an Assistant Captain while playing for the Rapid City Rush.  The native of Sherbrooke, Quebec has suited up for over 340 ECHL games throughout 6 seasons.

“Both Byron Froese and Cédric Montminy have shown exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to their teams, earning them the utmost respect from their peers and recognition from the PHPA,” expressed Larry Landon, Executive Director of the PHPA.  “Their responsiveness to both staff and Executive Committee members, coupled with their dedication to representing their teammates, truly embodies the essence of this award.  I commend them for their outstanding contributions and exemplary leadership.”

Both players were selected with the collective input from PHPA staff and were recognized by Landon at the 2024 PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives.