Gallery
The Kelly Cup
The Kelly Cup, with one more base level
The Gingher Memorial Trophy
The Brabham Cup
The Kelly Cup MVP Trophy
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]
| 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 (then the 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. It is named in recognition of Britsh Colmubia businessman Bruce Taylor, founder of the Western Coast Hockey League. [2] | 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) |
| 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) [3] |
| 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) [4] |
| 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) [5] |
| 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) [6] |
| 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) [7] |
| 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) [8] |
| 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) [9] |
| 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) [10] |
| 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) [11] |
| 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) [12] |
| 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) [13] |
| Executive of the Year [14] | 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 [15] [16] | 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) [17] |
| Marketing Award [18] | 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) [17] |
| Overall Award of Excellence [19] | 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 [20] | 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) [21] |
| 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) [22] |
| 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) [23] |
| 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) |
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in North Charleston, serves as a practice facility and backup arena. Established in 1993, the team has been owned by a group of local businesses since 1995. The team was affiliated with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League from 2004 to July 2012, when the Capitals announced their affiliation with the ECHL's Reading Royals. On June 26, 2014, the Washington Capitals announced an affiliation agreement with the Stingrays for the 2014–15 season.
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho, and a member of the ECHL. The Steelheads play in the Mountain Division of the ECHL's Western Conference since the 2016–17 season.
The Wichita Thunder are a minor league hockey team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team played in the Central Hockey League from 1992 until 2014, and then in the ECHL since the 2014–15 season. From 1992 until December 2009, the Thunder played in the Britt Brown Arena located in the northern Wichita suburb of Park City. In January 2010, the team began playing its home games at the newly built Intrust Bank Arena. The Thunder are currently the ECHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.
The Florida Everblades are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Estero, Florida, in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area. They play in the ECHL and are affiliated with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) starting in the 2024–25 ECHL season. Their home games are played at Hertz Arena.
The Toledo Storm were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the eastern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings, their NHL affiliate for fourteen of their sixteen seasons. The Storm would win six division titles, two Henry Brabham Cups and two Jack Riley Cups as champion of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise suspended operations following the 2006–07 season after they were sold to Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. The Storm returned to the ECHL for the 2009–10 season as the Toledo Walleye.
The Las Vegas Wranglers were a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas Valley. The Wranglers were members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL. The Wranglers were founded as an expansion franchise in 2003 following the ECHL's takeover of the West Coast Hockey League.
The Alaska Aces, known as the Anchorage Aces until 2003, was a professional ice hockey team in Anchorage, Alaska. Home games were played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. The Aces won three Kelly Cup championships, with their last championship following the 2013–14 ECHL season.
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the playoff champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup, named after former American Hockey League president Jack Riley. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning team for one year and is returned at the start of the following year's playoffs, although the trophy itself has been replaced three times with the first two iterations preserved in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player award is also given out as part of the Kelly Cup Championship ceremonies. Nick Vitucci, Dave Gagnon and Cam Johnson are the only players to win the award on multiple occasions, with Johnson the only player to win the award in consecutive years.
The Cincinnati Cyclones are an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati. The team is a member of the ECHL. Originally established in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at Heritage Bank Center.
The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989. The team played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1981 to 1987, the All-American Hockey League during 1987–88 and finally moved into the newly created East Coast Hockey League in 1988.
The 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th season of the ECHL. Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm. Toledo's suspension was granted after Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. acquired the Storm and requested a suspension of the team for two years in order to allow a new arena to be built in downtown Toledo to open in 2009 in time for the team to return to play.
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL. The Walleye were founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm and play their home games at the Huntington Center, which opened in 2009. Since the beginning of the 2009–10 season, the team has been affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League with an agreement in place through the 2023–24 season. They won the Season 9 Servus cup in The AXHL
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. The Brabham Cup has been awarded 34 times to 16 different franchises since its debut in 1989.
The 1996–97 ECHL season was the ninth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, two franchises relocated, one was renamed, and two expansion franchises were founded. Founding member Erie Panthers moved to Baton Rouge, LA and the Nashville Knights moved to Pensacola, FL, the Wheeling Thunderbirds changed their name to the Wheeling Nailers following a lawsuit with WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, and the ECHL welcomed franchises in Peoria, IL and Biloxi, MS.
The Allen Americans are a professional ice hockey team headquartered at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, which currently plays in the ECHL. The team was founded in 2009 in the Central Hockey League (CHL) where they played for five seasons, winning the Ray Miron President's Cup twice. The CHL folded in 2014 and the ECHL accepted the remaining CHL teams as members for the 2014–15 season. In their first two seasons in the ECHL, Allen advanced to the Kelly Cup finals, winning the championship in both years. The Americans are affiliated with the National Hockey League's Utah Hockey Club and the American Hockey League's Tucson Roadrunners.
Matthew Register is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL.
The 2019–20 ECHL season was the 32nd season of the ECHL. The regular season began in October 2019 to and was set to conclude in April 2020 with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-six teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces were each scheduled for 72 games.
The 2020–21 ECHL season was the 33rd season of the ECHL. Due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season was pushed back to December 11, 2020.
The 2021–22 ECHL season was the 34th season of the ECHL. The regular season was scheduled to run from October 21, 2021, to April 17, 2022, with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-seven teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces were each scheduled to play 72 games. The Florida Everblades were the 2022 Kelly Cup champions when they defeated the Toledo Walleye in five games in the Kelly Cup championship.
The 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs of the ECHL hockey league began on April 19, 2023, following the conclusion of the 2022–23 ECHL regular season and ended on June 9 with the Florida Everblades winning their second consecutive Kelly Cup and third overall over the Idaho Steelheads in four games.