Stars' Bourque Voted Winner of 2023-24 Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP
April 25, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that forward Mavrik Bourque of the Texas Stars has been voted the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player for the 2023-24 season.
The award was voted on by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league's 32 cities.
A second-year pro from Plessisville, Que., Bourque led the AHL with 77 points on 26 goals and 51 assists in 2023-24 - becoming, at 22, the league's youngest scoring champion in 12 years. He also registered a league-high 256 shots on goal, and helped Texas rank first in power-play efficiency at 21.9 percent by recording four goals and 20 assists with the man advantage.
Bourque, who went three games without a point on only one occasion all season, had an eight-game scoring streak that helped him win AHL Player of the Month honors for November. He totaled 19 multiple-point outings on the year, highlighted by a four-goal performance in Texas's 4-3 overtime win over Grand Rapids on Dec. 19.
Bourque was voted a First Team AHL All-Star and participated in the AHL All-Star Classic this season. Dallas's first-round choice (30th) overall in the 2020 NHL Draft made his National Hockey League debut with the Stars on Apr. 6. Bourque, a 20-goal scorer as a rookie in 2022-23, has totaled 47 goals and 82 assists for 129 points in 147 career games with Texas.
The AHL's most valuable player award honors the late Les Cunningham, a member of the AHL Hall of Fame who was a five-time league All-Star and three-time Calder Cup champion with the Cleveland Barons.
Previous winners of the award include Carl Liscombe (1948, '49), Johnny Bower (1956, '57, '58), Fred Glover (1960, '62, '64), Art Stratton (1965, '74), Dick Gamble (1996), Mike Nykoluk (1967), Dave Creighton (1968), Gilles Villemure (1969, '70), Doug Gibson (1975, '77), Pelle Lindbergh (1981), Paul Gardner (1985, '86), Tim Tookey (1987), Jody Gage (1988), John Anderson (1992), Don Biggs (1993), Brad Smyth (1996), Derek Armstrong (2001), Jason Spezza (2005), Keith Aucoin (2010), Tyler Johnson (2013), Travis Morin (2014), Chris Bourque (2016), Gerry Mayhew (2020), T.J. Tynan (2021, '22) and Dustin Wolf (2023).
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2024
- Moose Blanked by Stars, 2-0 - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals to Face Texas in Division Semifinals - Milwaukee Admirals
- Texas Advances to Face Milwaukee in the Central Division Semifinals - Texas Stars
- Wolf Pack Drop Heartbreaker in Game 1 to Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Will Lockwood Scores Late Shorthanded Goal To Give Checkers Game 1 Win Over Hartford - Charlotte Checkers
- Join the Amerks for a Pregame Block Party Ahead of Playoff Opener Friday at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Stars' Bourque Voted Winner of 2023-24 Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP - AHL
- Mavrik Bourque Wins Les Cunningham Award as Most Valuable Player - Texas Stars
- Abbotsford Canucks Take Game One as Their Quest for the Calder Cup Commences in Colorado - Abbotsford Canucks
- Griffins Begin Playoffs Saturday in Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Logan Stankoven Named AHL's Most Outstanding Rookie - Texas Stars
- Stars' Stankoven Voted Winner of 2023-24 Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as AHL's Outstanding Rookie - AHL
- T-Birds Put Bow on Record-Breaking 2023-24 Season - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Great Playoff Seats Still Available for Game 1 this Saturday - Rockford IceHogs
- Friday Pig Roast Highlights Griffins Promotions for Central Division Semifinals vs. IceHogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Parssinen Recalled by Predators - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wolf Pack Visit Checkers in Game 1 of Calder Cup Playoffs - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Providence Bruins Recall Ryan Mast from Maine Mariners, Sign Reid Dyck to ATO, Sign Bryce Montgomery to PTO - Providence Bruins
- Wolf Spectacular in Game One Win - Calgary Wranglers
- Roadrunners Tally 46 Shots in 2-0 Game One Loss to Calgary - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Top Condors in Opening Game - Ontario Reign
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.
