The Toledo Walleye fell just short [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/lions-down-walleye-in-five-games-to-capture-2025-kelly-cup]of winning the 2025 Kelly Cup, falling to the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the Cup Final in five games. One of the biggest reasons they got that far was Brandon Hawkins. The club got some great news on Wednesday, as they re-signed Hawkins for a fifth consecutive season in Toledo. The back-to-back ECHL MVP [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/players/toledos-hawkins-wins-mvp-award-for-second-consecutive-year]agreed to terms with the club for the 2025-26 campaign. Hawkins became just the second player to ever repeat as the league MVP last season, joining Allen’s Chad Costello (2015-16, 2016-17) as the only members of the exclusive club in 37 years of ECHL hockey. Named to the All-ECHL First Team [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/all-echl-first-and-second-teams-announced]for the third consecutive season, Hawkins led the league in scoring for the second consecutive year with 89 points while finishing second with 37 goals and tied for second with 53 assists. He also topped the league with 336 shots on goal, was tied for second with 12 power-play goals, and tied for sixth with seven game-winning goals. Known as ‘The Mayor’, Hawkins recorded at least one point in 48 of his 71 games last season, including 28 multiple-point games. He was honored as ECHL Player of the Month for January and was named to the ECHL Midseason All-Star Team. The Macomb, Mich. native added another ECHL MVP award to his trophy case, and he has continued to topple records and milestones throughout the season. Hawkins claimed the Walleye records for goals and power play goals, while crossing the 400 professional point milestone and 300 ECHL games played. Hawkins has totaled 399 points (190-209399) in 342 career ECHL games with Toledo, Fort Wayne [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/komets-make-two-player-signings], and Wheeling [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/nailers-young-guns-leading-the-charge], while adding seven points (3-4-7) in 28 career American Hockey League [https://thehockeynews.com/ahl/]games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, Cleveland, and Chicago. With Toledo alone, Hawkins has totaled 327 points (151-176-327), 175 PIMS, and a +74 in 259 games. While he didn’t win a Kelly Cup with the Walleye this past season, Hawkins won the Trophy while with the Komets in 2021. He is a three-time ECHL All-Star selection, and was named captain of the 2023-24 ECHL Team, and the reigning Most Valuable Player after a season that saw him post 40 goals and 93 total points, both the top of the league. (Photo Courtesy of the Toledo Walleye)
