Springfield, Massachusetts …The National Hockey League held its 2026 Awards Night Wednesday night at the annual meeting of the Board of Governors in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where it presented several awards for excellence and service:
cleveland monsters Mike Ostrowski Voted winner by the Board of Directors James C. Hendy Memorial Awardawarded to the National Hockey League’s Outstanding Corporate Executive.
As president of Rock Entertainment Group’s franchise team, Ostrovsky leads all aspects of Monster’s business operations. Under his leadership, the organization produced one of the strongest seasons in the NHL, combining record attendance with significant revenue growth and expanded media visibility. Ostrovsky’s 15 seasons with the Monsters have been marked by consistent excellence and an enduring commitment to the Cleveland community.
The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is named for the late James C. Hendy. Jim HendyA member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the AHL Hall of Fame, he is a long-time AHL statistician and historian who won four Calder Trophies as general manager of the Cleveland Barons.
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Rockford IceHogs Mark Bernard Won Bruce Langdon Award Named the AHL’s Outstanding Hockey Operations Director for 2025-26.
Facing personal health challenges last season — including a successful liver transplant in March — Bernard continued to lead Rockford’s hockey team without missing a beat. He played a key role in the planning process for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic hosted by the IceHogs, and he also played a key role on the AHL Collective Bargaining Committee, participating in numerous meetings and helping to reach resolutions on a new agreement between the league and the PHPA.
The Bruce Langdon Award was established prior to the 2024-25 season to recognize Bruce Langdonis a member of the NHL Hall of Fame and a mainstay in Springfield, Mass., as a player, executive and owner for nearly half a century.
president of the milwaukee admirals Jon Greenberg yes receiver Thomas Ebright Award In recognition of career contributions to the AHL.
Greenberg, a lifelong resident of the Milwaukee area, has overseen the day-to-day business operations of the Admirals since joining the club in 2005, following more than two decades with the Milwaukee Brewers. Under Greenberg’s leadership, the business has experienced steady growth in all areas each year, helping to solidify the Admirals’ footprint in the major league market. Greenberg has also been a key member of several AHL committees over the years, providing useful guidance for the league’s business development.
Thomas Ebright Award Honors Tom AbrightFormer owner and governor of the Baltimore Bonitos and Portland Pirates, died in 1997.
this Colorado Eagles (Team of the Year) and Logan Shaw Toronto Marlies Player of the Year (Outstanding Player) as selected by AHL President and CEO Scott Howson As the winner of the 2025-26 season David Andrews Award for Excellence.
Led by their rookie head coach, the Eagles posted a 41-20-6-5 record (93 points) Mark Lightstu They reached their fourth consecutive 40-win season during the 2025-26 regular season before advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since joining the AHL in 2018. Off the field, the Eagles continue to be a model of excellence throughout their operations, which consistently ranks them among the league’s business leaders in ticket and corporate sales revenue and community relations efforts. Colorado State held a sellout crowd for the fourth consecutive year, extending its streak of 169 consecutive games with sold-out games to Blue Federal Credit Union Arena.
In his fourth season with the Marlies, Shaw captained the team to the 2026 Calder Cup championship while displaying the leadership qualities that have made him one of the league’s most respected players throughout his 13-season career. Shaw, who has been Toronto’s captain since signing with the Marris in 2022, appeared in all 96 games of the team’s 2025-26 season, scoring a team-high 54 points in the regular season before scoring 17 points in the playoffs. A native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, he is a three-time AHL All-Star and was selected as the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award winner for the 2022-23 season, chosen as the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
Established in 2009, named after the long-time alliance president Dave Andrews Through 2025, these awards will be presented to AHL organizations and/or players who have excelled during the past year.
veteran referee Jarrod Ragusin Has been named a 2025-26 recipient Michael Condon Memorial Award Recognizing the outstanding contributions of an on-ice official.
Ragusin, a native of St. Charles, Illinois, has been on the AHL officiating staff since 2010, officiating nearly 450 games, including the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford. As one of the league’s longest-tenured on-ice officials, Ragusin has worked with and mentored many young officials over the years, demonstrating the expertise, professionalism and work ethic needed to succeed.
The Michael Condon Memorial Award was established in 2002 following the sudden death of the veteran AHL linesman Mike Condon.
The Alliance also recognized several outstanding achievements in various categories through the annual Team Business Service Awards.
As part of its Team Business Services program, the AHL recognized the clubs with the highest revenue growth last season in four areas: overall ticket sales, season ticket sales, group ticket sales and corporate sponsorship sales.
Overall ticket sales growth
Eastern Conference: Laval Rockets
Western Conference: Colorado Eagles
Season ticket sales increase
Eastern Conference: Laval Rockets
Western Conference: San Jose Barracuda
Group ticket sales increase
Eastern Conference: Charlotte Checkers
Western Conference: Tucson Roadrunners
corporate sales growth
Eastern Conference: Cleveland Monsters
Western Conference: Abbotsford Canucks
In addition, teams from each conference were selected for excellence in the areas of digital media, community relations and fan experience.
digital media
Eastern Conference: Hershey Bears
Western Conference: Bakersfield Condors
Excellent Community Relations
Eastern Conference: Utica Comets
Western Conference: Iowa Wild
Excellent fan experience
Eastern Conference: Laval Rockets
Western Conference: Colorado Eagles
The AHL also recognized several teams and individuals for their efforts heading into the 2025-26 season at the league’s team business meeting last month in Grand Rapids, including Syracuse Crunch as Marketing Department of the Yearthis texas star as merchandise department of the yearthis cleveland monsters as Annual Sponsorship Sales Department and laval rocket as Best Ticketing Department of the Year.
this chicago wolves recognized as Unique ticket promotions or theme nights (“National Funeral Directors and Morticians Recognition Night”); this Lehigh Valley Phantom selected as Immersive gaming experience (“Pan Kang Night”); this milwaukee admirals selected as Unique community relations initiative (“American Sign Language Night”); this manitoba moose be honored Unique social media content (“On Antlers” video series); this cleveland monsters was awarded an award Unique sponsorship packages or rights (Rockets “Your Love of Sports Starts at Home” collaboration); and rochester american recognized as Excellent marketing campaign (“70 Seasons of Ammerx Hockey”).
The AHL, which has been in operation since 1936 and celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, is the top developmental league for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Today, nearly 90 percent of NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honorary members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent their careers in the AHL.
