Jayson Megna: 2026 Boudreau Award Winner

“What an honor,” said Megna of receiving the award. “Incredibly fortunate to get to do what I do for a living, and it's been a long road and with the support of so many people that I don't even have time to thank.”Undrafted out of the USHL, Megna played one year at University of Nebraska Omaha before signing a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins after attending their development camp in 2012. He would play a total of 206 NHL games across ten seasons with Pittsburgh, the New York Rangers, Vancouver, Colorado, Anaheim and Boston before being presented with a career fork in the road.“I had to take a step back and think about my family and what I was missing at home,” said Megna, who has a wife and a five year-old daughter now. “Ultimately, that’s why I decided to sign an American League contract. I had some offers to go on an NHL contract, but we love Colorado so much.“It's the greatest place, and we really are proud to live here and play here.”

Megna signed his AHL deal with the Eagles and has served as their captain for the past two seasons, racking up 51 points both seasons and earning an All-Star Game nod this season. Across 14 seasons, he has accumulated 409 regular season points in 618 games and added another 43 points in 66 playoff games.The Florida-born forward who grew up playing in Chicago is trying to emulate the role models he saw when he entered the league, naming Warren Peters, Trevor Smith and Tom Kostopolous as his mentors when he started. The little things are where he focuses as he attempts to set up his younger teammates for on-ice success by emphasizing the off-ice habits.“Checking in with guys, making sure they're all set at home. They have all their finances squared away. That makes a big difference and helps them feel more comfortable at the rink when their life's sorted at home.”

The Bruce Boudreau Award

An American Hockey League roster is made up of dozens of talented, hardworking players through the course of each season. Many of them thrive in the league without an NHL contract. These players are often the backbone of their teams, leaders in the locker room, and consistent contributors on the ice, yet they rarely receive recognition beyond their immediate markets.With that in mind, a group of league-wide media members, led by Stephen Meserve of 100 Degree Hockey, created a new award, voted on by the media, to spotlight those who make a lasting impact in the league as true AHL players, upholding the league's competitive spirit and professional standard year after year.In searching for a namesake for the award, it was immediately obvious that former AHL player, coach, Calder Cup winner and AHL Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Boudreau was the perfect person to honor with the name.“What makes winning AHL teams good is good American League leadership. I've found that in every team that I've had,” said the award’s namesake, Bruce Boudreau. “They teach the young prospects how to be pros. Most of it is from the players and not from the coach. The older, experienced American League player, in the end, is what usually makes winners out of all those young players.”Bruce Boudreau built his coaching reputation in the AHL after a prolific minor-league playing career, where he ranks among the league’s all-time scorers (316 goals, 799 points). As a coach, he logged 340 AHL wins, most notably guiding the Hershey Bears to the 2006 Calder Cup and a 2007 finalist run.Washington promoted him to lead the Capitals in 2007, and he promptly won the 2007–08 Southeast Division and the NHL’s Jack Adams Award. Overall, he compiled a 617-342-128 record across four different teams in the NHL.Previous Winners and Nominees2026: Jayson Megna (COL); Chris Wagner (SPR), Chris Terry (BRI), Curtis McKenzie (TEX)
2025: Dominik Shine (GR); Tyler Wotherspoon (LAV), Chris Terry (BRI), Seth Griffith (BAK)

2026 Nominees

Chris Wagner, Springfield

At 34 and with 401 NHL games under his belt, Wagner may be getting better with age. He led Springfield in points and had a career-high 24 goals with five game-winners. Wagner took over as captain mid-season, and his leadership is obvious when watching Springfield play. He's relentless and physical all over the ice. After his captaincy, Springfield turned its season around and made the playoffs. —  Divver

Chris Terry, Bridgeport

Chris Terry is the epitome of dedication to the AHL with 16 seasons to his name starting in 2007. Terry is the league’s active career scoring leader with 828 points (340 goals, 488 assists) in 939 career games. He ranks ninth all-time across the AHL. Terry is in his third year as a member of the player’s executive committee, crucially representing their interests in this season’s CBA negotiations. — Androckitis

Curtis McKenzie, Texas

Curtis McKenzie started with Texas as a rookie, and now as the captain 12 years later, he is their emotional leader. With 725 games in his AHL ledger, McKenzie is still a productive veteran presence for a Stars team that needed a leader to jumpstart its sagging season in November. He is well-known in Cedar Park for his charitable efforts, including Captain’s Kids, which earned him the league’s 2025 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award. — Meserve

The Voting Panel

Stephen Meserve (Texas, Central Division) has covered the Texas Stars and hockey in Texas since 2009 at 100 Degree Hockey.Tony Androckitis (AHL league-wide) has covered the American Hockey League since 2011, currently for InsideAHLHockey. He is also a contributor to the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice covering the Penguins and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association.Ben Birnell (Utica, North Division) has covered the AHL in Utica since 2015 with the Utica Observer-Dispatch. He is the 2018 winner of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding media coverage.Mark Divver (Providence, Atlantic Division) has covered the Providence Bruins since 2009 for the RinksideRhodeIsland.com and the New England Hockey Journal, as well as local high school and collegiate hockey.Ben Lypka (Abbotsford, Pacific Division) has covered the Abbotsford market since 2015, currently at The Abbotsford News.Elaine Shircliff (Grand Rapids, Central Division) has covered the AHL since 2016, covering the Cleveland Monsters until 2025 when she moved to Grand Rapids. She writes and podcasts for Graced By Sports on Graced By Rain.

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All photos credit to their respective teams with additional credits to Andy Nietupski (stick and puck photo) and Jackie Kalafut (Chris Terry).