Allen's Watts Receives 2025-26 ECHL Sportsmanship Award

Published on April 17, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release

Brayden Watts of the Allen Americans
(Allen Americans)

The award is presented annually to the player who is judged to have exhibited the best sportsmanship combined with a high standard of playing ability.

The ECHL will announce the recipient of the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year on Monday.

Brandon Hawkins of Toledo finished second, followed by Idaho's Liam Malmquist, Simon Pinard of South Carolina and Norfolk's Brady Fleurent.

Watts is tied for second in the ECHL with 49 assists and tied for third with 73 points while being assessed just 10 penalty minutes in 69 games this season. The sixth-year pro has set career-highs this season in goals, assists and points.

ECHL Sportsmanship Award Winners

2025-26 Brayden Wattts, Allen Americans

2024-25 Peter Bates, Wichita Thunder

2023-24 A.J. White, Idaho Steelheads

2022-23 Zach O'Brien, Newfoundland Growlers

2021-22 Zach O'Brien, Newfoundland Growlers

2020-21 Aaron Luchuk, Orlando Solar Bears

2019-20 Spencer Watson, Indy Fuel

2018-19 Zach O'Brien, Newfoundland Growlers

2017-18 Brodie Dupont, Norfolk Admirals

2016-17 Shane Berschbach, Toledo Walleye

2015-16 Shane Berschbach, Toledo Walleye

2014-15 Chad Costello, Allen Americans

2013-14 Peter Sivak, Alaska Aces

2012-13 Randy Rowe, Toledo Walleye

2011-12 Kevin Ulanski, Colorado Eagles

2010-11 Brian Swanson, Alaska Aces

2009-10 Barret Ehgoetz, Cincinnati Cyclones

2008-09 Travis Morin, South Carolina Stingrays

2007-08 Jeff Campbell, Gwinnett Gladiators

2006-07 Derek Nesbitt, Idaho Steelheads

2005-06 Steve Saviano, Florida Everblades

2004-05 Kris Goodjohn, Gwinnett Gladiators

2003-04 Mark Pederson, San Diego Gulls

2002-03 Rejean Stringer, Columbia Inferno

2001-02 Ben Stafford, Trenton Titans

2000-01 Jamie Ling, Dayton Bombers

1999-00 Jamie Ling, Dayton Bombers

1998-99 Jamie Ling, Dayton Bombers

1997-98 Cal Ingraham, Tallahassee Tiger Sharks

1996-97 Mike Ross, South Carolina Stingrays

Brayden Watts of the Allen Americans

ECHL Stories from April 17, 2026

• Khazheyev Saves 32 in Goaltending Battle, Admirals Win, 3-0 - Greensboro Gargoyles
• School Day Success as Gargoyles Dazzle in Front of 16,867 - Greensboro Gargoyles
• Late Push Falls Short in Loss to Allen - Wichita Thunder
• Rush Mount Three-Goal Comeback, Wagner Downs Tahoe in Overtime - Rapid City Rush
• Kaleinikovas Records Multi-Point Night against Iowa - Bloomington Bison
• Rapid City Collects 4-3 Overtime Win Behind Third-Period Rally - Tahoe Knight Monsters
• Nelson, Heartlanders Stun Bison on Stormy Night, 4-3 - Iowa Heartlanders
• Icemen Roar Back in Heartbreaking Shootout Loss at Greenville - Jacksonville Icemen
• Oilers Down Mavericks for Second Straight Meeting in Final Home Game of 2025-26 Season - Tulsa Oilers
• Swamp Rabbits Win Wild Contest in Shootout over Icemen - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
• Toledo Finishes off Regular Season Schedule with Strong Win over Wheeling - Toledo Walleye
• Cardiac K-Wings Thrill in Final Seconds, Beat Cylones on Road - Kalamazoo Wings
• South Carolina Pulls Away in Third, Beats Savannah 6-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
• Cyclones Lose in a Heartbreaker, Fall to K-Wings 5-4 - Cincinnati Cyclones
• Three Points for Desruisseaux and Girouard in Lions Loss - Trois-Rivieres Lions
• Walleye Beat Wheeling for Only Time All Year - Wheeling Nailers
• Thunder Win Wild One over Lions 7-5 - Adirondack Thunder
• Ghost Pirates Fall to Stingrays in Regular Season Finale - Savannah Ghost Pirates
• ECHL Transactions - April 17 - ECHL
• Brayden Watts Wins Sportsmanship Award - Allen Americans
• Allen's Watts Receives 2025-26 ECHL Sportsmanship Award - ECHL
• Syracuse Crunch Recall Chris Harpur and Jon Gillies from Solar Bears, Edmonton Oilers Reassign Connor Ungar to Bakersfield AHL - Orlando Solar Bears
• Rego Recalled to AHL Ontario - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
• Romain Rodzinski Wins ECHL Community Service Award - South Carolina Stingrays
• Rush Game Notes: April 17, 2026 vs. Tahoe Knight Monsters - Rapid City Rush
• South Carolina's Rodzinski Receives 2025-26 ECHL Community Service Award - ECHL
• McLaughlin & Perets Recalled by Lehigh Valley; Bannister Signed to SPC - Reading Royals
• South Carolina Announces Multiple Roster Moves with Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
• Game Day Preview: Final Regular Season Road Game - Allen Americans

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