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.	Newfoundland Growlers (2019)
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	Newfoundland Growlers (2019)
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	Toledo Walleye (2019)
Henry Brabham Cup	1989	Awarded to the club finishing the regular season with the best overall record (based on points)	Cincinnati Cyclones (2019)

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.	Josh Kestner Toledo Walleye (2020)
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.	Zach O'Brien Newfoundland Growlers (2019)
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.	Steve Bergin South Carolina Stingrays (2020)
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.	Tomas Sholl Idaho Steelheads (2020)
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	Tyler Sheehy Allen Americans (2020)
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.	Alex Breton Allen Americans (2020)
Leading Scorer Award	1989	Awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring at the end of the regular season.	Josh Kestner Toledo Walleye (2020)
Plus Performer Award	2000	Awarded to the player who leads the league in plus/minus rating at the end of the regular season.	Ben Masella Florida Everblades (2020)
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.	Spencer Watson Indy Fuel (2020)
Community Service Award	2011	Awarded to a player who goes above and beyond in his efforts for community and charitable causes.	Connor Doherty Worcester Railers (2020)

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.	Steve Martinson Allen Americans (2020)
Executive of the Year	1993	The Executive of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL Board of Governors.	Neil Neukam Toledo Walleye (2019)
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)
Broadcaster of the Year	2002	The Broadcaster of the Year is determined in a vote of the ECHL broadcasters and media relations directors.	John Peterson Tulsa Oilers (2019)
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.	Cincinnati Cyclones (2018)
Award of Excellence	2004	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.	South Carolina Stingrays (2019)
Ticket Department of the Year	2003	The ECHL Ticket Department of the Year is determined in a vote of ECHL teams.	Norfolk Admirals (2019)
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.	Andrew Bruggeman (2020)
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.	Chris Burke Cincinnati Cyclones (2020)
Athletic Trainer of the Year	2008	The Sports Health Athletic Trainer of the Year Award is determined in a vote of ECHL athletic trainers.	Nick Potter Kansas City Mavericks (2019)
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)