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. Replaced the Riley Cup that was awarded for the playoff championship from 1988 to 1996.	Florida Everblades (2023)
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	Florida Everblades (2023)
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	Idaho Steelheads (2023)
Henry Brabham Cup	1989	Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points)	Idaho Steelheads (2023)

Individual trophies and awards

Award	Created	Description	Current holder
ECHL 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.	Hank Crone Allen Americans (2023)^[2]
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.	Cam Johnson Florida Everblades (2023)^[3]
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.	Everett Sheen Idaho Steelheads (2023)^[4]
ECHL 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.	John Lethemon Toledo Walleye (2023)^[5]
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. Also known as the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy	Hank Crone Allen Americans (2023)^[6]
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.	Owen Headrick Idaho Steelheads (2023)^[7]
Leading Scorer Award	1989	Awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring at the end of the regular season.	Hank Crone Allen Americans (2023)^[8]
Plus Performer Award	2000	Awarded to the player who leads the league in plus/minus rating at the end of the regular season.	Cody Haiskanen Matthew Register Idaho Steelheads (2023)^[9]
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.	Zach O'Brien Newfoundland Growlers (2023)^[10]
Community Service Award	2011	Awarded to a player who goes above and beyond in his efforts for community and charitable causes.	Chaz Reddekopp South Carolina Stingrays (2023)^[11]

Staff and miscellaneous awards

Award	Created	Description	Current holder
General Manager of the Year	2016	The General Manager of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL coaches.	Bruce Ramsay Wichita Thunder (2021)^[12]
Executive of the Year^[13]	1993	The Executive of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL Board of Governors.	Eric Trapp Idaho Steelheads (2020)
Media Relations Director of the Year	1997	The Media Relations Director of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL media relations directors and broadcasters.	Joe Roberts Kalamazoo Wings (2018)
PR/Broadcaster of the Year^[14]^[15]	2002	The PR/Broadcaster of the Year (previously known as Broadcaster of the Year until 2019) is determined in a vote of the ECHL broadcasters and media relations directors.	Andrew Smith Indy Fuel (2021)^[16]
Marketing Award^[17]	1997	The Marketing Award (previously known as 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.	Rapid City Rush (2021)^[16]
Overall Award of Excellence^[18]	2004	The Overall Award of Excellence will be presented by the league office to teams that are first-rate, cooperative with the league office, compliant with league programs and who distinguish themselves on and off the ice and in the community.	Florida Everblades/Reading Royals (2020)
Ticket Department of the Year^[19]	2003	The ECHL Ticket Department of the Year is determined in a vote of ECHL teams.	Kalamazoo Wings/Toledo Walleye (2020)
Ticket Executive of the Year	2003	The Ticket Executive of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL general managers.	Andrew Nawn Worcester Railers (2018)
Website of the Year	2005	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.	Allen Americans (2018)
Social Media Excellence	2016	The social media Award of Excellence is presented to an ECHL Member Team who has exemplified the use of social media in the following categories; scope of team reach (how many forms of social media does the team utilize and number of followers), creative social content/campaigns, use of social media to achieve business goals and active engagement with fans.	Indy Fuel (2018)
Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award	2008	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.	Nolan Bloyer (2023)^[20]
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.	Travis Ward (2023)^[21]
Athletic Trainer of the Year	2008	The Sports Health Athletic Trainer of the Year Award is determined in a vote of ECHL athletic trainers.	Jordan Dutton (2023)^[22]
Outstanding Media	2003	The Outstanding Media Award is determined in a vote of the ECHL media members, broadcasters, and media relations directors.	Jordan Strack, WTOL Toledo Walleye (2019)