With the AHL season over, the Rockford IceHogs are using this week to roll out their 2021 Team Awards. They’ve already named the Most Improved Player, the Heavy Hitter of the year, the Unsung Hero award, the Rookie of the Year, and Defenseman of the Year. Today, they finish their awards season by handing out the Team MVP award.
Nominees for the award include Defenseman of the Year Cody Franson, Most Improved Player of the Year Dylan McLaughlin, and MacKenzie Entwistle.
And your winner is …
He was a "third coach" on the ice, helped develop #Blackhawks young guns like Kalynuk, Regula, Mitchell and more all while finishing second in team scoring and leading the Hogs in ice time. Cody Franson, you are our MVP! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/qraltKXIO1
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 22, 2021
Cody Franson!
Like we mentioned in yesterday’s announcement that he had won his second IceHogs Best Defenseman award, Franson was an extension of the coaching staff with Rockford this season. His work on and off the ice with the young roster was felt in Chicago this season with the call-ups of players like Nicolas Beaudin and Wyatt Kalynuk after spending time with the IceHogs defensive group.
Franson led IceHogs defensemen in points and goals and was second on the team in scoring with 17 points in 26 games. He also led the team in powerplay points with nine.