The James Gatschene Memorial Trophy was awarded annually to the International Hockey League player selected as most valuable through his display of outstanding playing ability and sportsmanlike conduct over the course of the regular season, as chosen by the league coaches.
The trophy was first presented at the close of the 1946–1947 season by workers of the Chrysler factory in Windsor, Ontario, as a memorial to Gatschene, a former Chrysler employee and hockey star in the Windsor-Detroit area. Gatschene was a member of the Canadian Forces, killed in action during World War II.
Winners
Season Winner Team 1946-47 Herb Jones Detroit Auto Club 1947-48 Lyle Dowell Detroit Bright's Goodyears 1948-49 Bob McFadden Detroit Jerry Lynch 1949-50 Dick Kowcinak Sarnia Sailors 1950-51 John McGrath Toledo Mercurys 1951-52 Ernie Dick Chatham Maroons 1952-53 Don Marshall Cincinnati Mohawks 1953-54 no award 1954-55 Phil Goyette Cincinnati Mohawks 1955-56 George Hayes Grand Rapids Rockets 1956-57 Pierre Brillant Indianapolis Chiefs 1957-58 Pierre Brillant Indianapolis Chiefs 1958-59 Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1959-60 Billy Reichart Minneapolis Millers 1960-61 Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1961-62 Eddie Long Fort Wayne Komets 1962-63 Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1963-64 Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1964-65 William "Chick" Chalmers Toledo Blades 1965-66 Gary Schall Muskegon Mohawks 1966-67 Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1967-68 Don Westbrooke Dayton Gems Len Thornson Fort Wayne Komets 1968-69 Don Westbrooke Dayton Gems 1969-70 Cliff Pennington Des Moines Oak Leafs 1970-71 Lyle Carter Muskegon Mohawks 1971-72 Len Fontaine Port Huron Wings 1972-73 Gary Ford Muskegon Mohawks 1973-74 Peter Mara Des Moines Capitols 1974-75 Gary Ford Muskegon Mohawks 1975-76 Len Fontaine Port Huron Flags 1976-77 Tom Mellor Toledo Goaldiggers 1977-78 Dan Bonar Fort Wayne Komets 1978-79 Terry McDougall Fort Wayne Komets 1979-80 Al Dumba Fort Wayne Komets 1980-81 Marcel Comeau Saginaw Gears 1981-82 Brent Jarrett Kalamazoo Wings 1982-83 Claude Noel Toledo Goaldiggers 1983-84 Darren Jensen Fort Wayne Komets 1984-85 Scott Gruhl Muskegon Mohawks 1985-86 Darrell May Peoria Rivermen 1986-87 Jeff Pyle Saginaw Generals Jock Callander Muskegon Lumberjacks 1987-88 John Cullen Flint Spirits 1988-89 Dave Michayluk Muskegon Lumberjacks 1989-90 Michel Mongeau Peoria Rivermen 1990-91 David Bruce Peoria Rivermen 1991-92 Dmitri Kvartalnov San Diego Gulls 1992-93 Tony Hrkac Indianapolis Ice 1993-94 Rob Brown Kalamazoo Wings 1994-95 Tommy Salo Denver Grizzlies 1995-96 Stephane Beauregard San Francisco Spiders 1996-97 Frederic Chabot Houston Aeros 1997-98 Patrice Lefebvre Las Vagas Thunder 1998-99 Brian Wiseman Houston Aeros 1999-00 Frederic Chabot Houston Aeros Nikolai Khabibulin Long Beach Ice Dogs 2000-01 Norm Maracle Orlando Solar Bears
References James Gatschene Memorial Trophy www.hockeydb.com James Gatschene Memorial Trophy www.azhockey.com