ECHL awards

The ECHL presents numerous annual awards to recognize its teams, players, front office staff, and media contributors. The first awards were given out in recognition of the achievements of the league's teams and players in the league's inaugural season of 1989 and included the Jack Riley Cup and Brabham Cup awarded to the league's teams and the Most Valuable Player, Playoffs Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Leading Scorer awards to the league's players. The league has added many other awards since the league's inception including, the Goaltender of the Year award in 1994, the Sportsmanship Award in 1997, separate titles for each of its conference playoff champions in 1998, and the Plus Performer Award in 2000.[1]

Team trophies

Award Created Description Current holder
Patrick J. Kelly Cup 1989 Awarded to the ECHL playoff champion since 1989. Previously it was known as the Riley Cup from 1988 to 1996. Florida Everblades
E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy 1998 Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion, since 2005. Previously awarded to the Northern Conference playoff champion from 1998 to 2005 Cincinnati Cyclones
Bruce Taylor Trophy 1998 Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion, since 2005. Previously the Bruce Taylor Trophy was awarded to the playoff champion of the West Coast Hockey League until the league was absorbed by the ECHL in 2003. The Bruce Taylor Trophy has also been tagged as the trophy awarded to the Southern Conference playoff champion from 1998 to 2005 Las Vegas Wranglers
Henry Brabham Cup 1989 Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points) Toledo Walleye

Individual trophies and awards

Award Created Description Current holder
CCM U+ Most Valuable Player 1989 Awarded to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team as voted by the coaches of each team in the ECHL. Chad Costello
Colorado Eagles
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player 1989 Awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs as selected by members of the media at the conclusion of the final game of the Kelly Cup playoffs. John Muse
Florida Everblades
Reebok Goaltender of the Year 1994 Awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position as voted by the coaches of each team in the ECHL. Jeff Jakaitis
Gwinnett Gladiators
CCM Rookie of the Year 1989 Awarded to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the ECHL as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams. Previously known as the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy Dustin Gazley
Elmira Jackals
Defenseman of the Year 1989 Awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest ability at the position as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams. Aaron Schneekloth
Colorado Eagles
John Brophy Award 1989 Awarded to the ECHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams. Rob Murray, Alaska Aces
John Wroblewski, Gwinnett Gladiators
Leading Scorer Award 1989 Awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring at the end of the regular season. Dustin Gazley
Elmira Jackals
Reebok Plus Performer Award 2000 Awarded to the player who leads the league in plus/minus rating at the end of the regular season. Mathieu Aubin
Cincinnati Cyclones
Sportsmanship Award 1997 Awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams. Kevin Ulanski
Colorado Eagles

Staff and miscellaneous awards

Award Created Description Current holder
Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award 2007 Awarded to an On-Ice Official for his contributions and dedication to the league officiating staff and is determined in voting of ECHL On-Ice Officials. It is named in honor of ECHL linesman Ryan Birmingham, who was killed in an automobile accident in May 2007. David Jones
In Glas Co Equipment Manager of the Year 2003 The In Glas Co Equipment Manager of the Year Award is determined in a vote of ECHL equipment managers. Pat Noecker
Reading Royals
Sports Health Athletic Trainer of the Year 2007 The Sports Health Athletic Trainer of the Year Award is determined in a vote of ECHL athletic trainers. Brian Grogelsky
Reading Royals
Executive of the Year 1992 The Executive of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL Board of Governors. Darren Abbott
South Carolina Stingrays
Media Relations Director of the Year 1996 The Media Relations Director of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL media relations directors and broadcasters. John Hamel, Cincinnati Cyclones
Jeff Harris & Mike Walker, Victoria Salmon Kings
Broadcaster of the Year 2001 The Broadcaster of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL broadcasters and media relations directors. Joe Babik, Fresno Falcons
Brendan Burke, Wheeling Nailers
Excellence In Marketing 1997 The Excellence In Marketing Award is presented annually to the team marketing department "adjudged to be the best in the league" as determined by outside expert judges. Bakersfield Condors
Charlotte Checkers
Outstanding Media 2002 The Outstanding Media Award is determined in a vote of the ECHL media members, broadcasters, and media relations directors. Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times-Colonist
Doyle Woody, Anchorage Daily News
Award of Excellence 2003 The Award of Excellence will be presented by the league office to teams that are first-rate, who excel in all categories of sales and marketing, and who distinguish themselves in their community, both on and off the ice. Gwinnett Gladiators
Ticket Department of the Year 2002 The ECHL Ticket Department of the Year is determined in a vote of ECHL teams. Reading Royals
Victoria Salmon Kings
Ticket Executive of the Year 2002 The Ticket Executive of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL general managers. Thom Emerson, Mississippi Sea Wolves
Dave Piecuch, Stockton Thunder
Website of the Year 2004 The ECHL Web Site of the Year award is presented annually to the team whose web site is adjudged to be the best in the league as determined by outside expert judges. Bakersfield Condors
Gwinnett Gladiators
Marketing Campaign of the Year 2007 The Marketing Campaign Award is presented annually to the team marketing department adjudged to be the best in the league as determined by outside expert judges. Alaska Aces
Reading Royals

Gallery

References

See also