Steelheads also named Hockey Operations Department of the Year

The ECHL on Tuesday announced that Everett Sheen of the Steelheads is the 2022-23 recipient of the John Brophy Award as the league’s Coach of the Year. The John Brophy Award is the trophy presented annually to the ECHL coach selected to have contributed the most to his team’s success as selected in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members. The trophy is named for John Brophy, who won a record three ECHL titles with Hampton Roads in 1991, 1992 and 1998, and was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Jason Payne of Cincinnati finished second in the voting, followed by Toledo’s Dan Watson, Brenden Kotyk of South Carolina and Maine’s Terrence Wallin. The winner of the Defenseman of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday. Sheen led the Steelheads to ECHL single-season records with 58 wins and 119 points this season en route to the second Brabham Cup title in team history. Idaho also set a new league mark with 32 home wins and the team's 11 shutouts are tied for second in a single-season all-time. The Steelheads captured the Mountain Division title for the first time since 2015 and the team’s 44-point improvement over the 2021-22 season is tied for the eighth-best single-season improvement in ECHL history.The 2022-23 season is Sheen’s third season as the Steelheads’ head coaching after he spent the previous three seasons as the club’s assistant coach. During his playing career, he skated in 319 career ECHL games with Reading, Ontario and Colorado, recording 137 points (48g-89a). He also spent time with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins during the 2011-12 season. Sheen played four seasons of college hockey at College of the Holy Cross, serving as captain in his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Idaho is the recipient of League’s Hockey Operations Department of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to the team judged to have the best hockey operations department in the league and is determined by a vote of ECHL coaches. The Toledo Walleye finished second in the voting, followed by the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Cincinnati Cyclones and Newfoundland Growlers. John Brophy Award Winners (ECHL Coach of the Year)2022-23           Everett Sheen, Idaho Steelheads2021-22           Jeff Pyle, Atlanta Gladiators2020-21           Bruce Ramsay, Wichita Thunder2019-20           Steve Bergin, South Carolina Stingrays2018-19           Matt Thomas, Cincinnati Cyclones2017-18           Brad Ralph, Florida Everblades2016-17           Dan Watson, Toledo Walleye2015-16           Richard Matvichuk, Missouri Mavericks2014-15           Derek Lalonde, Toledo Walleye2013-14           Spencer Carbery, South Carolina Stingrays2012-13           Jarrod Skalde, Cincinnati Cyclones2011-12           Rob Murray, Alaska Aces and John Wroblewski, Gwinnett Gladiators2010-11           Brent Thompson, Alaska Aces2009-10           Derek Laxdal, Idaho Steelheads2008-09           Rick Kowalsky, Trenton Devils2007-08           Chuck Weber, Cincinnati Cyclones2006-07           Davis Payne, Alaska Aces2005-06           Glen Gulutzan, Las Vegas Wranglers2004-05           Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm2003-04           Pat Bingham, Wheeling Nailers2002-03           Claude Noel, Toledo Storm2001-02           Dave Farrish, Louisiana Ice Gators2000-01           Troy Ward, Trenton Titans1999-00           Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades1998-99           Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades1997-98           Chris Nilan, Chesapeake IceBreakers1996-97           Brian McCutcheon, Columbus Chill1995-96           Roy Sommer, Richmond Renegades1994-95           Jim Playfair, Dayton Bombers1993-94           Barry Smith, Knoxville Cherokees1992-93           Kurt Kleinendorst, Raleigh IceCaps1991-92           Doug Sauter, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds1990-91           Don Jackson, Knoxville Cherokees1989-90           Dave Allison, Virginia Lancers1988-89           Ron Hansis, Erie Panthers ECHL Hockey Operations Department of the Year Award2022-23           Idaho Steelheads2021-22           Toledo Walleye