ECHO Hockey Inc.

ECHO Hockey Impact Player Award

This award was introduced in the Spring of 2007 and some of you are still saying “What the heck is that award for”!  

 

All too often in competitive sports the accolades are reserved for the player with the best stats.  Scoring titles, statistical leaders, hat tricks, playmakers, etc. In the NHL, how often has the Art Ross Trophy (league leader in points during the regular season) been awarded to someone on the Stanley Cup Championship team? Even the traditional Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Valuable Goaltender (MVG) awards are typically awarded to the player with the most outstanding statistics. Well what about the player that hustles on every play, keeps the teams spirits up and never gives up in the face of adversity?  Where is their recognition? And what about the player who may not regularly be one of the “stars” but puts it all together and has a standout weekend?  This “Impact” may not show up on the score sheet, but it is easily recognized by the team, the parents, the coaches and may even result in the teams victory! This was the driving force behind the creation of the ECHO Wolf Impact Player award.

 

The selection process for the ECHO Wolf Impact Player is left up to the team’s coaching staff to determine.  They can elect to make the selection themselves, take a poll from the parents or even let the players vote on the selection.  This award is to be presented to the player with the greatest IMPACT on the team’s success over the course of the tournament and not necessarily on statistics or past performances.  

 

Another great aspect of this award, is that one player from EVERY team is eligible to win. Not just one player per division. This means that whether you come in 1^st place or last place…the “Impact Player” from your team can be recognized.  Did you have a goaltender that absolutely stood on his head and kept you in the game?  Even if his stats do not put him in the running for the MVG award, you still want to recognize his Impact!  Or what about a defensemen that was an stone wall on the blue line?  You may even choose to give this to a player who impacted the team off of the floor?  On the bench? In the locker room? Maybe you want to recognize a reserve player that kept everyone motivated despite not even playing?

Does this sound like an award you want to win?  

MAKE AN IMPACT!