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American Hockey League (AHL)

The AHL MVP Award Is Called The Les Cunningham Award. Here's Who's Won It

The AHL MVP Award Is Called The Les Cunningham Award. Here's Who's Won It

The American Hockey League's most valuable player award is named after a 3-time Calder Cup winner, Les Cunningham. Here's every winner.

Sep 12, 2024 by Joe Harrington
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Les Cunningham was a five-time AHL All-Star and three-time Calder Cup champion during his 10-year career, primarily playing for the Cleveland Barons. When he retired, Cunningham was the AHL's all-time leader in points. 

And the AHL most valuable player award is named after him. 

The Les Cunningham was first given after the 1948 season. Carl Liscombe won it twice in the first two seasons and Johnny Bower won it three straight seasons from 1956-1958. The reigning Les Cunningham Award winner is Mavrik Bourque of the Texas Stars.

The No. 30 pick in the 2020 NHL draft played 71 games for the Texas Stars and scored 26 goals and 77 points. He debuted for the Dallas Stars and played in the playoffs. 

Who ever wins the next Les Cunningham Award will do so on FloHockey and the FloSports app, which are the official streaming homes to the AHL.

Here's every Les Cunningham Award winner. 

All-Time Les Cunningham Award Winners And AHL MVP Winners

  • 1947–48: Carl Liscombe, LW, Providence Reds
  • 1948–49: Carl Liscombe, LW, Providence Reds
  • 1949–50: Les Douglas, C, Cleveland Barons
  • 1950–51: Ab DeMarco, C, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1951–52: Ray Powell, C, Providence Reds
  • 1952–53: Eddie Olson, LW, Cleveland Barons
  • 1953–54: George Sullivan, C, Hershey Bears
  • 1954–55: Ross Lowe, D, Springfield Indians
  • 1955–56: Johnny Bower, G, Providence Reds
  • 1956–57: Johnny Bower, G, Providence Reds
  • 1957–58: Johnny Bower, G, Cleveland Barons
  • 1958–59: Rudy Migay, C, Rochester Americans
  • 1958–59: Bill Hicke, RW, Rochester Americans
  • 1959–60: Fred Glover, C, Cleveland Barons
  • 1960–61: Phil Maloney, C, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1961–62: Fred Glover, C, Cleveland Barons
  • 1962–63: Denis DeJordy, G, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1963–64: Fred Glover, C, Cleveland Barons
  • 1964–65: Art Stratton, C, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1965–66: Dick Gamble, LW, Rochester Americans
  • 1966–67: Mike Nykoluk, C, Hershey Bears
  • 1967–68: Dave Creighton, C, Providence Reds
  • 1968–69: Gilles Villemure, G, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1969–70: Gilles Villemure, G, Buffalo Bisons
  • 1970–71: Fred Speck, C, Baltimore Clippers
  • 1971–72: Garry Peters, C, Boston Braves
  • 1972–73: Bill Inglis, C, Cincinnati Swords
  • 1973–74: Art Stratton, C, Rochester Americans
  • 1974–75: Doug Gibson, C, Rochester Americans
  • 1975–76: Ron Andruff, C, Nova Scotia Voyageurs
  • 1976–77: Doug Gibson, C, Rochester Americans
  • 1977–78: Blake Dunlop, F, Maine Mariners
  • 1978–79: Rocky Saganiuk, RW, New Brunswick Hawks
  • 1979–80: Norm Dube, LW, Nova Scotia Voyageurs
  • 1980–81: Pelle Lindbergh, G, Maine Mariners
  • 1981–82: Mike Kaszycki, F, New Brunswick Hawks
  • 1982–83: Ross Yates, RW, Binghamton Whalers
  • 1983–84: Garry Lariviere, D, St. Catharines Saints
  • 1983–84: Mal Davis, RW, Rochester Americans
  • 1984–85: Paul Gardner, C, Binghamton Whalers
  • 1985–86: Paul Gardner, C, Rochester Americans
  • 1986–87: Tim Tookey, C, Hershey Bears
  • 1987–88: Jody Gage, RW, Rochester Americans
  • 1988–89: Stephan Lebeau, C, Sherbrooke Canadiens
  • 1989–90: Paul Ysebaert, LW, Utica Devils
  • 1990–91: Kevin Todd, C, Utica Devils
  • 1991–92: John Anderson, LW, New Haven Nighthawks
  • 1992–93: Don Biggs, C, Binghamton Rangers
  • 1993–94: Rich Chernomaz, RW, St. John's Maple Leafs
  • 1994–95: Steve Larouche, C, Prince Edward Island Senators
  • 1995–96: Brad Smyth, RW, Carolina Monarchs
  • 1996–97: Jean-Francois Labbe, G, Hershey Bears
  • 1997–98: Steve Guolla, C, Kentucky Thoroughblades
  • 1998–99: Randy Robitaille, C, Providence Bruins
  • 1999–00: Martin Brochu, G, Portland Pirates
  • 2000–01: Derek Armstrong, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack
  • 2001–02: Eric Boguniecki, C, Worcester IceCats
  • 2002–03: Jason Ward, RW, Hamilton Bulldogs
  • 2003–04: Jason LaBarbera, G, Hartford Wolf Pack
  • 2004–05: Jason Spezza, C, Binghamton Senators
  • 2005–06: Donald MacLean, C, Grand Rapids Griffins
  • 2006–07: Darren Haydar, RW, Chicago Wolves
  • 2007–08: Jason Krog, C, Chicago Wolves
  • 2008–09: Alexandre Giroux, LW, Hershey Bears
  • 2009–10: Keith Aucoin, C, Hershey Bears
  • 2010–11: Corey Locke, C, Binghamton Senators
  • 2011–12: Cory Conacher, LW, Norfolk Admirals
  • 2012–13: Tyler Johnson, C, Syracuse Crunch
  • 2013–14: Travis Morin, C, Texas Stars
  • 2014–15: Brian O'Neill, RW, Manchester Monarchs
  • 2015–16: Chris Bourque, LW, Hershey Bears
  • 2016–17: Kenny Agostino, LW, Chicago Wolves
  • 2017–18: Phil Varone, C, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
  • 2018–19: Daniel Carr, LW, Chicago Wolves
  • 2019–20: Gerald Mayhew, C, Iowa Wild
  • 2020–21: T. J. Tynan, C, Colorado Eagles
  • 2021–22: T. J. Tynan, C, Ontario Reign
  • 2022–23: Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary Wranglers
  • 2023–24: Mavrik Bourque, C, Texas Stars

When Does The AHL Season Start in 2024?

The season begins on Oct. 11, 2024 with the Milwaukee Admirals traveling to the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7 p.m. EST and the Syracuse Crunch traveling to the Utica Comets at the same time. 

There are a total of 29 games over the opening weekend. 

How Does The AHL Hockey Schedule Work?

Here’s the breakdown of games scheduled by the week: 

  • Monday will feature 15 games this season. 
  • Tuesday will feature 57 games this season. 
  • Wednesday will feature 197 games this season. 
  • Thursday will feature 15 games this season.  
  • Friday will feature 302 games this season.
  • Saturday will feature 392 games this season.  
  • Sunday will feature 174 games this season.

When Do The Hershey Bears Begin The season?

The defending AHL Champions and winners of 13 Calder Cup championships will begin their seasons and raise the banner on Oct. 12 against the Cleveland Monsters at the Giant Center. It’s a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals. 

When Is The AHL All-Star Classic?

The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is being hosted by the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Palm Desert, Calif. From Feb. 2 to Feb. 3. The all-star game is on Feb. 3 and will follow the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony. 

How To Watch The AHL On FloHockey 

The AHL is streaming on FloHockey and the FloSports app. Live games, replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms. 

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best and most complete coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft news is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch ECHL, USHL, AHL And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social