The ECHL announced on Thursday that South Carolina Stingrays’ President Rob Concannon is the 2025-26 recipient of the Blake Cullen Award as ECHL Executive of the Year.
 
The award, which is determined in voting by the ECHL Board of Governors, is presented annually to the top executive in the League. In 2023, the award was renamed in honor of Blake Cullen, who was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Cullen founded the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1989, and owned the team for seven seasons through 1995-96.
 
During the 2025-26 season, South Carolina had four sellouts, 10 games over 6,000 fans, and a record attendance of over 9,000 for Education Day. The organization participated in over 200 community events, with 1,023 staff and 418 player volunteer hours. Romain Rodzinski received the 2025-26 ECHL Community Service Player of the Year Award, marking the third time in four seasons that a Stingrays’ player won the award.
 
Concannon played a pivotal role in negotiating the ECHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, having been selected as one of three Governors to serve on the committee and the only one with prior ECHL playing experience. He also serves as the Chair of the Competition Committee and the League Relations Committee.
 
Blake Cullen ECHL Executive of the Year Award
2026                Rob Concannon, South Carolina Stingrays
2025                Adam Goldberg, Maine Mariners
2024                Jeff Mead, Adirondack Thunder
2023                Billy Johnson, Norfolk Admirals
2022                Joel Lomurno, Wichita Thunder
2020                Eric Trapp, Idaho Steelheads
2019                Neil Neukam, Toledo Walleye
2018                Neil Neukam, Toledo Walleye and Bob Ohrablo, Jacksonville Icemen
2017                Brent Thiesssen, Kansas City Mavericks
2016                Kristin Ropp, Cincinnati Cyclones
2015                Joe Napoli, Toledo Walleye
2014                Matthew Riley, Bakersfield Condors
2013                Joe Napoli, Toledo Walleye
2012                Justin Kemp,   Ontario Reign
2011                Dan Chapman, Stockton Thunder
2010                Kristin Ropp, Cincinnati Cyclones
2009                Gordon Kaye, Reading Royals
2008                Darren Abbott, South Carolina Stingrays
2007                Matthew Riley, Bakersfield Condors
2006                Steve Chapman, Gwinnett Gladiators
2005                Steve Chapman, Gwinnett Gladiators
2004                Terry Parks, Alaska Aces
2003                John Butler, Peoria Rivermen
2002                Matt Loughran, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2001                Craig Brush, Florida Everblades
2000                Brian McKenna, Trenton Titans
1999                Carl Scheer, Greenville Grrrowl
1998                Charles Felix, Pensacola Ice Pilots
1997                David Paitson, Columbus Chill
1996                Dave Berryman, Louisiana Ice Gators
1995                Harry Fuerstein/Craig Laughlin, Richmond Renegades
1994                John Gagon/Pierre Paiement, Roanoke Express
1993                Larry Kish, Wheeling Thunderbirds
 
About the ECHL
 
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 782 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.