Ghost Pirates Announce First-Ever Team Award Winners
April 10, 2025 - ECHL (ECHL)
Savannah Ghost Pirates News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Savannah Ghost Pirates announced Saturday the winners of their first-ever Ghost Pirates Team Awards. The awards were announced and presented at a ceremony on the ice at Enmarket Arena before Savannah's game against Florida.
The following is a list of the award categories and winners:
Ghost Pirates 2024-25 Team Award Winners:
Community Engagement Award: Graham McPhee
Unsung Hero Award: Nick Granowicz
Defenseman of the Year Award: Dennis Cesana
Rookie of the Year Award: Liam Walsh
Most Valuable Player: Dennis Cesana
Fan Favorite Award: Devon Paliani
McPhee has appeared in multiple community initiatives with the Ghost Pirates this season, despite being sidelined due to injury since November. From volunteering in the inaugural Yoga On Ice at Enmarket Arena to spending time at Memorial Children's Hospital, the 26-year-old has continuously made an impact around the area in the 2024-25 season.
Granowicz has exemplified what it meant to be an unsung hero in his first full professional season, playing in all situations and accepting every role asked of him throughout the 72-game campaign. He has consistently contributed to Savannah's penalty kill, helping it remain in the top 10 of the ECHL for the majority of the season. He is tied for the Ghost Pirates team lead in shorthanded goals with two.
Walsh earned Savannah's award as the top rookie on the team thanks to his 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 69 games this season since coming from Northeastern University. Like Granowicz, Walsh has been a crucial cog on the Ghost Pirates PK unit, disrupting the opposition's power plays and creating offensive chances while shorthanded. He is tied for second on the team in game-winning goals with three.
Cesana was the lone Ghost Pirates player to take home two awards, and for good reason. In 52 games this season, the North Providence, RI, native shattered Ghost Pirates single-season records by a defenseman. Despite several call-ups to the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers, Cesana sits third among ECHL blueliners in goals and fifth in points. He is also in the top five in most power-play assists and power-play points by defensemen. His game-breaking ability and elite play stood out time after time in his first season in Savannah.
Taking over 48 percent of an online vote from Ghost Pirates Fantom Club members, Paliani has been a fan favorite since day one in Savannah. While his 31 goals (fourth in the ECHL) and 57 points are the most a Ghost Pirates player has recorded in a single season, he also has registered five fights this year. By repeatedly bringing energy to the Savannah faithful, Paliani has delivered a full commitment to the Ghost Pirates logo with his play. In doing so, he's earned a tremendous amount of support in the 912.
ECHL Stories from April 10, 2025
- ECHL Transactions - April 10 - ECHL
- Chyzowski Returns from Manitoba - Norfolk Admirals
- Heartlanders Announce Playoff Dates for First Round Series vs. Fort Wayne - Iowa Heartlanders
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Atlanta Scores First Two Goals, But 'blades Rally for Five Straight for Win - Atlanta Gladiators
- Ryan Wagner Earns All-ECHL Second Team Honors - Rapid City Rush
- Dennis Cesana Earns All-ECHL Second Team Honors - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Connor Welsh Named All-ECHL Second Team Defenseman - Worcester Railers HC
- Luke Cavallin Named on the All-ECHL Second Team - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Brandon Hawkins Named to Third Consecutive All-ECHL First Team - Toledo Walleye
- Cade Borchardt Named to the 2024-25 All-ECHL Second Team - Kansas City Mavericks
- All-ECHL First and Second Teams Announced - ECHL
- Utah Grizzlies Defenseman Derek Daschke Named First Team All-ECHL - Utah Grizzlies
- Jacob Hudson Loaned to Springfield Thunderbirds - Maine Mariners
- Cam Johnson Named to 2024-25 All-ECHL First Team - Florida Everblades
- Alexander Suzdalev Reassigned to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Royals Induct 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP Riley Gill into Wall of Honor, Show Appreciation to Fans for Fandemonium Night - Reading Royals
- Lions Lose Final Regular-Season Road Game - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Knight Monsters Lose in Shootout, But Clinch Playoff Berth - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Royals Comeback Falls Short, Drop Road-Trip Finale against Admirals, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Fitze and Manning Scored for Utah in 3-2 Loss at Rapid City - Utah Grizzlies
- Mavericks Rally Past Idaho 4-2 Behind Record-Tying Night - Kansas City Mavericks
- Nick Canade and Ryan Gagnon Score in 4-2 Loss vs. Kansas City - Idaho Steelheads
- Wagner Sets Assist Record, Torchia Records First Win as Rush Down Utah 3-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Ghost Pirates Announce First-Ever Team Award Winners - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Tyler Poulsen Scores Hat Trick as Oilers Top Allen in Largest Win of Season - Tulsa Oilers
- Heartlanders Announce Playoff Dates for First Round Series vs. Fort Wayne - Iowa Heartlanders
- Fuel Roll Bison in Final Regular Season Matchup - Indy Fuel
- Americans Fall to Tulsa 8-1 - Allen Americans
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
