Allen's Chouinard is AMI Graphics/ECHL Plus Performer of the Year

The ECHL on Monday announced that Allen Americans’ defenseman Joel Chouinard is the recipient of the AMI Graphics Plus Performer of the Year award after finishing the season with a plus-minus rating of +47.

Simon Denis of Toledo finished second with a plus-minus rating of +40, followed by Fort Wayne’s Cody Sol at +39. There was a five-way tie for fourth at +32.

Chouinard posted an even or better rating in 54 of his 72 games this season. He posted 44 points (10g-34a), which was tied for 10th among ECHL defensemen.

A native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Chouinard has recorded 92 points (22g-70a) in 155 career ECHL games with Allen and Toledo while adding 50 points (16g-34a) in 204 career American Hockey League games with Lake Erie, Hamilton, Grand Rapids, Iowa and Chicago.

ECHL Plus-Minus Rating Leaders2016-17 Joel Chouinard, Allen Americans, +472015-16 Joey Leach, South Carolina Stingrays, +402014-15 Drew Daniels, Fort Wayne Komets, +46 Mike Little, Florida Everblades, +462013-14 Peter Sivak, Alaska Aces, +492012-13 Matt Case, Idaho Steelheads, +322011-12 Mathieu Aubin, Cincinnati Cyclones, +252010-11 Trent Daavettila, Kalamazoo Wings, +28 Brendan Connolly, Greenville Road Warriors, +282009-10 Mark Derlago, Idaho Steelheads, +342008-09 Travis Morin, South Carolina Stingrays, +372007-08 Chad Starling, Cincinnati Cyclones, +482006-07 Matt Shasby, Alaska Aces, +432005-06 Peter Metcalf, Alaska Aces, +442004-05 Aaron Phillips, Pensacola Ice Pilots, +362003-04 Tim Smith, Columbia Inferno, +402002-03 Mike Glumac, Pee Dee Pride, +37 Dennis Vial, Columbia Inferno, +372001-02 Konstantin Kalmikov, Louisiana IceGators, +432000-01 Jay Murphy, Louisiana Ice Gators, +321999-00 Andy MacIntyre, Florida Everblades, +461998-99 Jan Vodrazka, Pee Dee Pride, +441997-98 Stan Melanson, Louisiana IceGators, +361996-97 Dominic Maltais, Hampton Roads Admirals, +441995-96 Kim Maier, Knoxville Cherokees, +481994-95 Jamie Steer, Dayton Bombers, +431993-94 Sebastien Laplante, Greensboro Monarchs, +421992-93 Victor Gervais, Hampton Roads Admirals, +591991-92 Brad McCaughey, Toledo Storm, +51