The David Branch Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). It is selected from three most valuable players of the respective leagues; the Red Tilson Trophy of Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The trophy was known as the CHL Player of the Year award until the 2019–20 season, when it was renamed for David Branch who served as president of the CHL from 1996 to 2019.
As of the 2025–26 selection, the award has been given to players in the OHL 20 times, players in the QMJHL 19 times, and players in the WHL 12 times. Sidney Crosby (2003–04, 2004–05) and Alexis Lafrenière (2018–19, 2019–20) are the only repeat winners.
Winners List of winners of the CHL Player of the Year award.
Season Winner Team League 1974–75 Ed Staniowski Regina Pats WCHL 1975–76 Peter Lee Ottawa 67's OMJHL 1976–77 Dale McCourt St. Catharines Fincups OMJHL 1977–78 Bobby Smith Ottawa 67's OMJHL 1978–79 Pierre Lacroix Trois-Rivières Draveurs QMJHL 1979–80 Doug Wickenheiser Regina Pats WHL 1980–81 Dale Hawerchuk Cornwall Royals QMJHL 1981–82 Dave Simpson London Knights OHL 1982–83 Pat LaFontaine Verdun Juniors QMJHL 1983–84 Mario Lemieux Laval Voisins QMJHL 1984–85 Dan Hodgson Prince Albert Raiders WHL 1985–86 Luc Robitaille Hull Olympiques QMJHL 1986–87 Rob Brown Kamloops Blazers WHL 1987–88 Joe Sakic Swift Current Broncos WHL 1988–89 Bryan Fogarty Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 1989–90 Mike Ricci Peterborough Petes OHL 1990–91 Eric Lindros Oshawa Generals OHL 1991–92 Charles Poulin Saint-Hyacinthe Laser QMJHL 1992–93 Pat Peake Detroit Junior Red Wings OHL 1993–94 Jason Allison London Knights OHL 1994–95 David Ling Kingston Frontenacs OHL 1995–96 Christian Dubé Sherbrooke Castors QMJHL 1996–97 Alyn McCauley Ottawa 67's OHL 1997–98 Sergei Varlamov Swift Current Broncos WHL 1998–99 Brian Campbell Ottawa 67's OHL 1999–2000 Brad Richards Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 2000–01 Simon Gamache Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 2001–02 Pierre-Marc Bouchard Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 2002–03 Corey Locke Ottawa 67's OHL 2003–04 Sidney Crosby Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 2004–05 Sidney Crosby Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 2005–06 Alexander Radulov Quebec Remparts QMJHL 2006–07 John Tavares Oshawa Generals OHL 2007–08 Justin Azevedo Kitchener Rangers OHL 2008–09 Cody Hodgson Brampton Battalion OHL 2009–10 Jordan Eberle Regina Pats WHL 2010–11 Ryan Ellis Windsor Spitfires OHL 2011–12 Brendan Shinnimin Tri-City Americans WHL 2012–13 Jonathan Drouin Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 2013–14 Anthony Mantha Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 2014–15 Connor McDavid Erie Otters OHL 2015–16 Mitch Marner London Knights OHL 2016–17 Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters OHL 2017–18 Alex Barré-Boulet Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 2018–19 Alexis Lafrenière Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 2019–20 Alexis Lafrenière Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 2020–21 Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021–22 Logan Stankoven Kamloops Blazers WHL 2022–23 Connor Bedard Regina Pats WHL 2023–24 Jagger Firkus Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 2024–25 Gavin McKenna Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 2025–26 Maxim Massé Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL
See also List of Canadian Hockey League awards
References
External links CHL Awards – CHL