The Tahoe Knight Monsters have had a successful start to their history, making the playoffs in their inaugural season. Similarly, Sloan Stanick has not disappointed in his first year as a pro.

On Monday, the ECHL announced that the Knight Monsters’ forward has been named the 2024-25 recipient of the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy as the ECHL Rookie of the Year.

The award is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition at the “AA” level or higher as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members.

The trophy was named in honor of John A. Daley in 1997. Daley, who passed away in 1996, was one of the founding fathers of the ECHL, serving as general manager and minority owner of the Johnstown Chiefs from the inception of the team in 1988 until 1994.

Chas Sharpe of the Cincinnati Cyclones finished second, followed by South Carolina’s Kyler Kupka, Matty De St. Phalle of the Wheeling Nailers and Orlando’s Spencer Kersten.

The 21-year-old Stanick finished the regular season with 29 goals and 50 assists in 70 games, leading rookies in both categories. His 79 points was most among rookies by a margin of 24, tied for second overall across the ECHL, and led the Knight Monsters.

“It's pretty special, coming into the year you’re not sure what's going to happen,” Stanick said following the announcement of his award. “A lot of credit to my two linemates, they’ve really helped me accomplish this goal and it's pretty special for my family and I.”

Stanick also led rookies in shots with 252, and was fourth in power-play points with 19. In the final 18 games of the regular season since the beginning of March, he paced Tahoe skaters with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists).

“He’s been excited to be here every day that he’s been here… he’s been bought in from day one in terms of being a good Knight Monster,” Knight Monsters head coach Alex Loh said. “Couldn’t be more proud of him, he certainly earned it, and he’s been a huge asset for us all season.”

Twenty-two of Stanick’s 50 assists went into linemate Simon Pinard’s 33 goals, a testament to how dynamic that line of Hughes, Stanick, and Pinard was all season long.

“We’re together all the time every single day… it’s pretty special to play with them,” Stanick said. “To assist that many goals that [Pinard] scored is pretty cool, he's a really good player.”

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound left-shot forward will now take his talents to his first ECHL playoff run, as the Knight Monsters begin their quest for the Kelly Cup in Wichita on Saturday against the Thunder at 4:05 Pm PT.

“We look forward to seeing you all cheer us on in the playoffs, it's going to be even louder and we’re really excited for it,” Stanick said.