The Player of the Year Trophy is an award given by Ice Hockey Journalists UK (formally the British Ice Hockey Writers Association) to the MVP in the Elite League and the English Premier League at the end of each season. In previous seasons it has been awarded to players in the British Hockey League's Premier and First Divisions, the Super League and the British National League. The trophy was first awarded in 1985.
Tony Hand has won the trophy the most times, with a total of six awards. Steve Moria has won three times. Rick Fera, Mark Morrison, Scott Morrison, Lukas Smital and Randy Smith have each won the trophy on two occasions.
| Season | Elite League | Premier League |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | Craig Weller (Cardiff Devils) | Tony Hand (Manchester Phoenix) |
| 2009-10 | Colin Shields (Belfast Giants) | Jaroslav Cesky (Bracknell Bees) |
| 2008–09 | David Beauregard (Manchester Phoenix) | Steve Moria (Slough Jets) |
| 2007-08 | Adam Calder (Coventry Blaze) | Steve Moria (Slough Jets) |
| 2006-07 | Mark Smith (Cardiff Devils) | Lukas Smital (Bracknell Bees) |
| 2005-06 | Theo Fleury (Belfast Giants) | Kyle Amyotte (Romford Raiders) |
| British League | ||
| 2004-05 | Tony Hand (Belfast) Neal Martin (Coventry Blaze) |
Lukas Smital (Bracknell Bees) |
| 2003-04 | Jason Ruff (Belfast Giants) | Tony Hand (Edinburgh Capitals) |
| Super League | ||
| 2002-03 | Joel Laing (Sheffield Steelers) | Jody Lehman (Coventry Blaze) |
| 2001-02 | Kevin Riehl (Belfast Giants) | Tony Hand (Dundee Texol Stars) |
| 2000-01 | David Longstaff (Sheffield Steelers) | Mark McArthur (Guildford Flames) |
| 1999-00 | Ed Courtenay (Sheffield Steelers) | Stephen Murphy (Fife Flyers) |
| 1998-99 | Frank Pietrangelo (Manchester Storm) | Perry Pappas (Slough Jets) |
| 1997-98 | Rob Dopson (Ayr Scottish Eagles) | Mark Morrison (Fife Flyers) |
| 1996-97 | Steve Lyle (Cardiff Devils) | Claude Dumas (Telford Tigers) Mark Morrison (Fife Flyers) |
| Premier Division | First Division | |
| 1995-96 | Randy Smith (Cardiff Devils) | Shawn Byram (Manchester Storm) |
| 1994-95 | Randy Smith (Peterborough Pirates) | Steve Moria (Swindon Wildcats) |
| 1993-94 | Doug Smail (Fife Flyers) | Patrick Scott (Milton Keynes Kings) |
| 1992-93 | Tony Hand (Murrayfield Racers) | Rick Fera (Basingstoke Beavers) |
| 1991-92 | Dan Dorion (Nottingham Panthers) | Richard Laplante (Fife Flyers) |
| 1990-91 | Rick Brebant (Durham Wasps) | Scott Morrison (Humberside Seahawks) |
| 1989-90 | Steve Moria (Cardiff Devils) | Gerard Waslen (Telford Tigers) |
| 1988-89 | Tony Hand (Murrayfield Racers) | Luc Chabot (Medway Bears) |
| 1987-88 | Scott Morrison (Whitley Bay Warriors) | Kevin Conway (Telford Tigers) |
| 1986-87 | Rick Fera (Murrayfield Racers) | Garry Unger (Peterborough Pirates) |
| 1985-86 | Tim Salmon (Ayr Bruins) | Brad Schnurr (Solihull Barons) |
| 1984-85 | Dave Stoyanovich (Fife Flyers) | Not awarded |