(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 Clutch Performer Award as voted by ECHL players. 

The PHPA Clutch Performer Award is presented to one player from the ECHL Eastern and Western Conferences who can be relied upon by their team to provide late-game heroics, an overtime winner, a game-winning save, or any reason for a team’s success when the game is on the line.

ECHL Eastern Conference: David Vallorani, Brampton Beast

The Hamilton, Ontario native played in his second season with the Beast this year finishing with 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 70 games, including 46 penalty minutes.  Vallorani displayed his clutch gene with 9 game winning goals for the Beast. The 5’8, 176 lbs forward, is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell hockey program, where he had 114 points in 144 games over four years.

“This award is pretty special to me. It’s always nice knowing that other players are looking at your game and respect you in that way,” said Vallorani. “My biggest thing is being a really good teammate and showing the younger guys what it’s like to excel in this league. I just try to model my game after older guys I’ve looked up to when I was a rookie and work hard every night and be a respectful player.”

ECHL Western Conference: Caleb Herbert, Utah Grizzlies

Drafted in 2010 by the Washington Capitals, the Bloomington, Minnesota native dressed in 60 games for the Utah Grizzlies in 2018-19. The 27-year-old amassed 32 goals and 39 assists for 71 points, including 88 penalty minutes. Herbert displayed his clutch capabilities with 6 game winning goals, including one over time winner. Prior to making the jump to professional hockey in 2014, Herbert spent three seasons playing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he tallied 89 points in 112 career games.

“I think it’s awesome. I think it’s a little bit different when your peers and other players are voting for the award and it definitely means a lot that other people view me as a clutch performer,” said Herbert. “I like to thrive in those important moments, whether it’s a power play goal or an overtime goal or even getting one early in a game. I was lucky to get a lot of opportunity this year and play in every situation and have the opportunity to show up in those big moments.”