title: ECHL awards
text: # 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.
  
  ## 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  
  ## 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) |
  | Executive of the Year | 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 | 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) |
  | Marketing Award | 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) |
  | Overall Award of Excellence | 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 | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  | 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) |
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * The Kelly Cup
  * The Kelly Cup, with one more base level
  * The Gingher Memorial Trophy
  * The Brabham Cup
  * The Kelly Cup MVP Trophy
  