Words and Images Courtesy of the Norfolk Admirals
The ECHL announced today that Norfolk Admirals’ President Billy Johnson is the 2022-23 recipient of the ECHL Executive of the Year Award.
The award, which is determined in voting by the ECHL Board of Governors, is presented annually to the top executive in the League. In January, the award was renamed in honor of Blake Cullen, who was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Cullen founded the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1989 and owned the team for seven seasons through 1995-96.
Johnson joined the Admirals in November of 2021 after previous ECHL experience as President of the Las Vegas Wranglers from 2003-14.
During the 2022-23 season, he was instrumental in the Admirals hosting the 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic, which highlighted Norfolk to a national audience. The Admirals saw paid attendance during the season increase by 40% over the 2021-22 season. Additionally, the team had six of the top 10 places in all-time weekend (Friday and Saturday) gross ticket revenues since the team was formed in 1989, including its 15 seasons in the American Hockey League.
Johnson also introduced the team’s wildly successful marketing centerpiece, The City Series, which celebrated each of the seven Hampton Roads cities.
Blake Cullen ECHL Executive of the Year Award
2023 Billy Johnson, Norfolk Admirals
2022 Joel Lomurno, Wichita Thunder
2020 Eric Trapp, Idaho Steelheads
2019 Neil Neukam, Toledo Walleye
2018 Neil Neukam, Toledo Walleye and Bob Ohrablo, Jacksonville Icemen
2017 Brent Thiesssen, Kansas City Mavericks
2016 Kristin Ropp, Cincinnati Cyclones
2015 Joe Napoli, Toledo Walleye
2014 Matthew Riley, Bakersfield Condors
2013 Joe Napoli, Toledo Walleye
2012 Justin Kemp, Ontario Reign
2011 Dan Chapman, Stockton Thunder
2010 Kristin Ropp, Cincinnati Cyclones
2009 Gordon Kaye, Reading Royals
2008 Darren Abbott, South Carolina Stingrays
2007 Matthew Riley, Bakersfield Condors
2006 Steve Chapman, Gwinnett Gladiators
2005 Steve Chapman, Gwinnett Gladiators
2004 Terry Parks, Alaska Aces
2003 John Butler, Peoria Rivermen
2002 Matt Loughran, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2001 Craig Brush, Florida Everblades
2000 Brian McKenna, Trenton Titans
1999 Carl Scheer, Greenville Grrrowl
1998 Charles Felix, Pensacola Ice Pilots
1997 David Paitson, Columbus Chill
1996 Dave Berryman, Louisiana Ice Gators
1995 Harry Fuerstein/Craig Laughlin, Richmond Renegades
1994 John Gagon/Pierre Paiement, Roanoke Express
1993 Larry Kish, Wheeling Thunderbirds
About the ECHL
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces for its 35th season in 2022-23. There have been 740 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 13 who have made their NHL debut in the 2022-23 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 28 of the 32 NHL teams in 2022-23, marking the 26th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.