Hockey awards are often ordered for tournaments, where nobody’s name is known until the final. The end of the season is different. The coach knows exactly who blocked shots on the penalty kill, who took every key faceoff and who stopped forty shots in the game the team stole.
These ideas are grouped by position, forwards, defense and goaltenders, then by the numbers hockey keeps, skills-night contests and fun. They work for a youth house team, a travel team, a high school program or an adult league.
Forwards
- Top Scorer Award: the points leader, goals plus assists.
- Sniper Award: the most goals.
- Playmaker Award: the most assists, for the forward who made linemates better.
- Faceoff Award: the best faceoff percentage, for the center who started the play with the puck.
- Two-Way Forward Award: the forward the coach trusted in the last minute of a one-goal game.
- Net-Front Award: stood in front of the goaltender and paid for it.
- Forecheck Award: first in on the puck and forced turnovers deep.
Defense
- Shutdown Defender Award: drew the other team’s top line every game.
- Shot Blocker Award: the most blocked shots.
- Breakout Award: the first pass out of the zone was always on the tape.
- Quarterback Award: ran the power play from the blue line.
- Stick Check Award: broke up the most passes and rushes.
Goaltenders
Teams usually carry two goaltenders, and they are the hardest position to compare with anyone else. Give them their own awards.
- Top Goaltender Award: the best save percentage with enough games played.
- Shutout Award: a small piece for each shutout, with the opponent and date.
- Stolen Game Award: the game the goaltender won almost alone.
- Goaltending Tandem Award: given to both goalies when they split the season.
- Puck-Handling Goalie Award: stopped dump-ins and started breakouts.
Plus-minus and the numbers
Plus-minus counts goals for and against while a player is on the ice. A player usually gets a plus for an even-strength or shorthanded goal for, and a minus for one against, with power play goals left out. It is a popular award because it rewards defense as well as scoring.
Use it with care. Plus-minus depends heavily on linemates and ice time, and many youth leagues do not track it reliably. If your scorekeeping is not consistent, name the award for what the coach saw instead:
- Plus-Minus Leader: the best rating, where it is tracked well.
- Penalty Kill Award: the forward or defender trusted most when the team was a player short.
- Power Play Award: the most power play points.
- Game-Winning Goal Award: scored the most goals that decided a game.
- Sportsmanship Award: the fewest penalty minutes among regular players.
Skills-night awards
Many teams finish the season with a skills competition. These are contest awards, decided on the night, and small pieces work well.
- Hardest Shot: the hardest shot, measured where the rink can, or judged where it cannot.
- Fastest Skater: one lap, timed.
- Accuracy Shooting: the fewest shots to hit all four corner targets.
- Shootout Champion: the last shooter standing against the goaltenders.
- Puck Control Relay: the fastest run through the cones.
Fun hockey awards
Keep them light, and never about penalties, fights or a goal allowed.
- Rink Rat Award: first on the ice, last off, at every practice.
- Stick Tape Artist: the most elaborate tape job of the season.
- Gear Bag Award: the bag the team asked to ride in a different car.
- Celly Award: the most original goal celebration.
- Hot Chocolate Award: for the parent or player who kept the stands warm at early games.
- Skate Lace Award: tied, retied and tied again before every shift.
For non-hockey ideas, see funny award ideas.
Captains, alternates and seniors
Hockey marks its leaders on the sweater, with a C for the captain and an A for each alternate. Many teams carry that letter onto the award, which is a simple way to make a captain’s piece look like hockey and nothing else.
- Captain’s Award: for the player who wore the C, with the letter in the design.
- Alternate Captain Award: one for each player who wore an A.
- Senior Award: for every senior, with the seasons they played in the program.
- Locker Room Award: chosen by the players, for the teammate who held the room together.
- Team Manager Award: for the parent who ran the schedule, the ice slots and the tournament hotel rooms.
How many to give
| Kind of team | Earned awards | Everyone receives |
|---|---|---|
| Youth house or learn-to-play | Effort and improvement only | The same award for every player |
| Travel | Forward, defense, goaltender, top scorer, MVP, most improved | A team piece |
| High school | The travel set, plus captains, seniors and academic | Senior recognition |
| Adult league | Champion, top scorer, top goaltender, one fun award | Optional |
Character and leadership awards shared with other sports are listed in sports award categories. Adult leagues often keep one champion’s award that moves team to team; see perpetual trophies.
Presenting them
Present goaltenders first, then defense, then forwards, then the team awards and MVP. If the banquet is at the rink, skills-night awards can be handed out on the ice the same evening, which keeps the banquet itself shorter.
Read a line combination when a whole line earned an award. Players remember lines. If the team is thanking the coach, see coach awards for a plaque from the players.
Wording and ordering
Shot Blocker Award
Nolan Petrie · Defense
Northwoods 16U AA
2026–27 Season
We build hockey awards from the team or association logo, in acrylic, wood and metal, cut to a crest, a puck or crossed sticks, with MVP trophies for the top award. We design for free, take orders of any size, and produce only after you approve the proof. Tournament and league sets are on hockey trophies, and the banquet plan is on end-of-season awards. Plan from the date the awards must be at the rink, and see how far in advance to order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good end-of-season hockey awards?
Awards for the best forward, defender and goaltender, top scorer, most improved, MVP and a coach’s award cover most teams. Add skills-night awards if the team holds one.
What is a plus-minus award?
An award for the best plus-minus rating, which tracks goals for and against while a player is on the ice. It is only fair where the statistic is kept consistently.
How do you recognize hockey goaltenders?
With their own awards: top goaltender by save percentage, a piece for each shutout, and a tandem award when two goalies shared the net.
What awards are given at a hockey skills competition?
Hardest shot, fastest skater, accuracy shooting and a shootout champion are the usual contests, each with a small award.
Do adult hockey leagues give end-of-season awards?
Many do: a champion’s award, often a traveling one, plus top scorer, top goaltender and one or two fun awards.
Awards for the whole team?
Send the team or association name, the logo and your award list. A proof of the full set comes back to you for approval first.
See team awards
