Player Voted Awards

As a means to recognize the many outstanding achievements of PHPA Members, the PHPA established several Player Voted Awards and categories.

 

Player Representative of the Year Award

 

The PHPA Player Representative of the Year Awards were developed in 2021 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

 

Award recipients are selected from the collective input of all PHPA staff, Advisors, and Executive Committee and are recognized during the PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives.

 

Doug Messier AHL Player Representative of the Year Award

2024 – Byron Froese, Henderson Silver Knights

2023 – Zac Dalpe, Charlotte Checkers

2022 – Mason Shaw, Iowa Wild

2021 – Keegan Lowe, San Diego Gulls

 

 

T. Jim Wiley ECHL Player Representative of the Year Award

2024 – Cédric Montminy, Trois-Rivières Lions

2023 – Anthony Petruzzelli, Fort Wayne Komets

2022 – Mathieu Brodeur, Trois-Rivieres Lions

2021 – Shawn Szydlowski, Fort Wayne Komets

 

 

Player Voted Awards

 

Following the 2014-15 season, PHPA Members began voting on a series of season-ending individual awards, separated by League and further by Conference, to determine the players judged to be the very best in several different award categories.

 

Heart, Hustle, Desire Award

Presented to one player from each AHL and ECHL Conference who is considered by their peers to be the hardest working player in their respective League’s Conference, demonstrating heart, hustle, and desire each and every night, both on and off the ice.

 

2024 – Patrick Brown, Providence Bruins, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Max McCormick, Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL Western Conference

2024 – Cédric Montminy, Trois-Rivières Lions, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Jason Pineo, Wichita Thunder, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Cole Bardreau, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Max McCormick, Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL Western Conference

2023 – Anthony Beauchamp, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Eddie Matsushima, Tulsa Oilers, ECHL Western Conference

 

2019 – Joe Cox, Florida Everblades, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Nate Mitton, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Western Conference

 

2018 – Tom Kostopoulos, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, AHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Brett Sutter, Ontario Reign, AHL Western Conference

2018 – Patrick Gaul, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL Eastern Conference

2018 – (Tie) Justin Danforth, Cincinnati Cyclones & Gabriel Desjardins, Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL Western Conference

 

2017 – Carter Bancks, Utica Comets, AHL Eastern Conference

2017 – John McCarthy, San Jose Barracuda, AHL Western Conference

2017 – Patrick Gaul, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL Eastern Conference

2017 – C.J. Eick, Utah Grizzlies, ECHL Western Conference

 

2016 – Carter Bancks, Utica Comets, AHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Jake Dowell, Rockford Ice Hogs, AHL Western Conference

2016 – Patrick Gaul, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Josh Holmstrom, Missouri Mavericks, ECHL Western Conference

 

2015 – Bobby Farnham, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, AHL

2015 – Gary Steffes, Allen Americans, ECHL

 

 

Game Saving Goalie Award

Presented to one goaltender from each AHL and ECHL Conference who is known to consistently make the big save at the biggest moment of the game.  He can steal a win for his team, frustrate opponents, and is regarded as the hardest goaltender to play against.

 

2024 – Hunter Shepard, Hershey Bears, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – (Tie) Chris Driedger, Coachella Valley Firebirds & Dustin Wolf, Calgary Wranglers, AHL Western Conference

2024 – Cam Johnson, Florida Everblades, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Cale Morris, Kansas City Mavericks, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Joel Hofer, Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Dustin Wolf, Calgary Wranglers, AHL Western Conference

2023 – Pat Nagle, Reading Royals, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Adam Scheel, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL Western Conference

 

2019 – Sean Bonar, Atlanta Gladiators, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Michael Houser, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Western Conference

 

2018 – Garret Sparks, Toronto Marlies, AHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Michael Hutchinson, Manitoba Moose, AHL Western Conference

2018 – Mitch Gillam, Worcester Railers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Michael Houser, Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL Western Conference

 

2017 – Zane McIntyre, Providence Bruins, AHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Troy Grosenick, San Jose Barracuda, AHL Western Conference

2017 – J.P. Anderson, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Riley Gill, Allen Americans, ECHL Western Conference

 

2015 – Matt Murray, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, AHL

2015 – Jeff Jakaitis, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL

 

 

Best Defensive Defenseman Award

Presented to one player from each AHL and ECHL Conference whose offensive output or statistics may not necessarily reflect the significance of his consistent defensive contributions to the team.

 

2024 – Dylan McIlrath, Hershey Bears, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Jimmy Schuldt, Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL Western Conference

2024– Joe Leahy, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Dominic Dockery, Wichita Thunder, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Ty Emberson, Heartford Wolf Pack, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – (Tie) Jimmy Schuldt, Coachella Valley Firebirds & Keaton Middleton, Colorado Eagles, AHL Western Conference

2023 – Ethan Cap, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Kris Myllari, Allen Americans, ECHL Western Conference

 

2019 – Connor Doherty, Worcester Railers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Keegan Kanzig, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL Western Conference

 

2018 – Andrew MacWilliam, Rochester Americans, AHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Andrew Campbell, Tucson Roadrunners, AHL Western Conference

2018 – David Kolomatis, Manchester Monarchs, ECHL Eastern Conference

2018 – (Tie) Curtis Leonard, Fort Wayne Komets & Jake Marto, Colorado Eagles, ECHL Western Conference

 

2017 – Andrew Campbell, Toronto Marlies AHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Vincent LoVerde, Ontario Reign, AHL Western Conference

2017 – Eric Knodel, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Joel Chouinard, Allen Americans, ECHL Western Conference

 

2016 – Andrew Campbell, Toronto Marlies, AHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Jeff Schultz, Ontario Reign, AHL Western Conference

2016 – Joey Leach, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Corbin Baldwin, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL Western Conference

 

 

Built Tough Award

Presented to one player from each AHL and ECHL Conference 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.

 

2024 – Matt Rempe, Heartford Wolf Pack, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Keaton Middleton, Colorado Eagles, AHL Western Conference

2024 – Darian Skeoch, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Chaz Reddekopp, Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Dylan McIlrath, Hershey Bears, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Keaton Middleton, Colorado Eagles, AHL Western Conference

2023 – James Melindy, Newfoundland Growlers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Sean Allen, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Western Conference

 

2019 – Yanick Turcotte, Worcester Railers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Arvin Atwal, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Western Conference

 

2018 – Tyler Randell, Belleville Senators, AHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Dylan McIlrath, Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL Western Conference

2018 - Yanick Turcotte, Worcester Railers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Travis Howe, Utah Grizzlies, ECHL Western Conference

 

2017 – Justin Vaive, Rochester Americans AHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Mike Liambas, Milwaukee Admirals, AHL Western Conference

2017 – Brandon McNally, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Derek Mathers, Allen Americans, ECHL Western Conference

 

2016 – Pierre-Luc Létourneau Leblond, Albany Devils, AHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Kyle Hagel, Charlotte Checkers, AHL Western Conference

2016 – Bobby Shea, South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Garet Hunt, Alaska Aces, ECHL Western Conference

 

 

Top Prospect Award

Presented to one player from each AHL and ECHL Conference who stands out as the best next future star to succeed and make an impact at the next level of the sport.

 

2019 – John Edwardh, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Pascal Aquin, Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL Western Conference

 

2018 – Thatcher Demko, Utica Comets, AHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Sami Niku, Manitoba Moose, AHL Western Conference

2018 – Grant Besse, Norfolk Admirals, ECHL Eastern Conference

2018 – Michael Joly, Colorado Eagles, ECHL Western Conference

 

2017 – Kasperi Kapanen, Toronto Marlies, AHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Pontus Aberg, Milwaukee Admirals, AHL Western Conference

2017 – Brendan O’Donnell, Florida Everblades, ECHL Eastern Conference

2017 – Jake Paterson, Toledo Walleye, ECHL Western Conference

 

2016 – William Nylander, Toronto Marlies, AHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Mikko Rantanen, Milwaukee Admirals, AHL Western Conference

 

2015 – Teemu Pulkkinen, Grand Rapids Griffins

 

 

Veteran Presence Award

Presented to one player from each ECHL Conference who qualifies as a league veteran and has continuously demonstrated the ability to motivate and lead their fellow teammates. This player uses their experience to provide leadership for their teammates, both on and off the ice.

 

2024 – Dylan McIlrath, Hershey Bears, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Brett Sutter, Calgary Wranglers, AHL Western Conference

2024 – Shane Harper, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – A.J. White, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Logan Shaw, Toronto Marlies, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Brett Sutter, Calgary Wranglers, AHL Western Conference

2023 – James Melindy, Newfoundland Growlers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Colton Hargrove, Allen Americans, ECHL Western Conference

 

2019 – James Henry, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – (Tie) Steven Kaunisto, Tulsa Oilers & Jamie Schaafsma, Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL Western Conference

 

 

Clutch Performer Award

Presented to one player from each ECHL Conference who can be relied upon by their team to provide late-game heroics, an overtime winner, a game-winning save, or any reason for the team’s success when the game is on the line.

 

2019 – David Vallorani, Brampton Beast, ECHL Eastern Conference

2019 – Caleb Herbert, Utah Grizzlies, ECHL Western Conference

 

 

Unsung Hero Award

Presented to one player from each AHL and ECHL Conference 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.

 

2024 – Riley Sutter, Hershey Bears, AHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Mike Hardman, Rockford IceHogs, AHL Western Conference

2024 – Oliver Chau, Florida Everblades, ECHL Eastern Conference

2024 – Conlan Keenan, Toledo Walleye, ECHL Western Conference

 

2023 – Cole Cassels, Belleville Senators, AHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Rhett Gardner, Texas Stars, AHL Western Conference

2023 – Todd Skirving, Newfoundland Growlers, ECHL Eastern Conference

2023 – Logan Nelson, Rapid City Rush, ECHL Western Conference

 

2016 – Rod Pelley, Albany Devils, AHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Brennan Evans, Texas Stars, AHL Western Conference

2016 – Mike Bergin, Adirondack Thunder, ECHL Eastern Conference

2016 – Rocco Carzo, Missouri Mavericks, ECHL Western Conference

 

 

Top Defenseman Award

Awarded to one defenseman from the AHL and ECHL who during the regular season exemplifies best all-around ability.

 

2015 – Chris Wideman, Binghamton Senators, AHL

2015 – Mike Little, Florida Everblades, ECHL

 

 

Most Valuable Player Award

Presented to one player from the AHL and ECHL voted by his peers as the top performer in the league.

 

2015 – Brian O’Neill, Manchester Monarchs, AHL

2015 – Chad Costello, Allen Americans, ECHL