Full CHL Award Winners List: NHL Draft Prospects Earn Big Accolades
With the conclusion of the Memorial Cup last month, players, coaches, executives and media gathered in downtown Toronto to celebrate an incredible season of Canadian junior hockey at the 2026 CHL awards.
The event recognized excellence from the top performers of the season on the ice, behind the bench and in the communities of franchises across the OHL, WHL and QMJHL.
Here's a detailed list of the award winners from this season and the accomplishments that led them to being honored by the CHL.
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CHL David Branch Player Of The Year Award: Maxim Masse (ANA), Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Masse was a force for the Sagueneens this year, being named the QMJHL's most valuable player after leading the league in scoring with 51 goals and 101 points. With this win, the Anaheim Ducks prospect joins Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Alexis Lafreniere, Gavin McKenna and Alex DeBrincat as the only players to win the CHL's rookie of the year and player of the year awards.
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CHL Defenseman Of The Year Award: Bryce Pickford (MTL), Medicine Hat Tigers
Pickford put up historic numbers in the WHL this year, scoring 45 goals in 55 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, the most in a single season by a CHL defenseman in the 21st century. The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick led all of the WHL with 18 power-play goals and was tied for the league lead with 11 game-winners.
CHL Sportsman Player Of The Year Award: Cole Beaudoin (UTA), Barrie Colts
Presented annually to the player judged to be the most sportsmanlike in the CHL, Beaudoin led the Colts as captain with 33 goals and 89 points in 54 games, all while showing incredible discipline, finishing with just 29 penalty minutes. Beaudoin is only the second player in Colts history to take home this award.
CHL Scholastic Player Of The Year Award: Alex Weiermair (VEG), Portland Winterhawks
The award honors the CHL player who best combines success on the ice with achievement in the classroom, and Weiermair exemplified those qualities with the Winterhawks this season. The 21-year-old Vegas Golden Knights prospect recorded 37 goals and 93 points in 66 games while maintaining a 4.0 GPA across his college coursework.
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CHL Coach Of The Year Award: Steve Hamilton, Everett Silvertips
Hamilton guided Everett to its best record in franchise history and the second-best record in CHL history, going 57-8-2-1 before going on a dominant playoff run that sent the Silvertips to their first Memorial Cup tournament. The Silvertips were dominant in all on-ice situations under Hamilton, finishing fourth on the power play and on the penalty kill, along with a plus-131 goal differential.
CHL Humanitarian Of The Year Award: Marcus Kearsey, Charlottetown Islanders
This is the first time Kearsey has been recognized by the CHL after earning the QMJHL humanitarian player of the year award for the second time in three seasons. Kearsey has shown commitment to the community in Charlottetown through participation in charitable and social initiatives. On the ice, the Islanders' captain finished fifth in scoring among QMJHL defenders with a career-high 55 points in 62 games.
Stay tuned for reaction from some of the award winners.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 11:35 AM.