The IIHF’s Historical Committee has narrowed its list of candidates for IIHF Male Player of the Year to seven players who, in one way or another, had an outstanding season in 2022-23.
 
Those names, representing five nations, are (in alphabetical order): Andres Ambuhl (F, Switzerland), Connor Bedard (F, Canada), Adam Fantilli (F, Canada), Dominik Kubalik (F, Czechia), JJ Peterka (F, Germany), Moritz Seider (D, Germany), and Arturs Silovs (G, Latvia).

The voting will take place among Media and invited members of the IIHF Family, and the winner will be announced on Monday, 19 June. Voters are not limited to these seven candidates, and if anyone feels another player is more deserving, that name can be “written in” on the ballot.
 
This is the first year for this trophy, and Hilary Knight has already been named Female Player of the Year by receiving nearly 41 per cent of all votes in that category.
 
Both winners will be awarded their trophy in person by IIHF delegates, the larger version of which will be housed permanently at the Hockey Hall of Fame and a smaller version for the player to keep. The candidates are chosen based on players who best exemplify exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season.
 
The Male Player of the Year must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament this past season (IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship, IIHF  Ice Hockey U18 World Championship) as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which were deemed superior to all other players.

Andres Ambuhl, Switzerland

The Swiss captain seems to be getting better, not older. The 39-year-old has just completed his record 18^th IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at the top level and along the way extended his record for most Men’s World Championship games (now 131). He scored four goals in Tampere/Riga, two of which were game winners, against Canada and Czechia, in addition to becoming the all-time scoring leader for Switzerland at the Men’s Worlds. On the home front, he captained Davos in the Swiss league and recorded 29 points in 52 games during the regular season.

Connor Bedard, Canada

Capping off one of the greatest junior seasons in Canada’s history, Bedard was the dominant factor in Canada’s gold-medal victory at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship despite being only 17 years old. He led the tournament with 23 points in just seven games, well ahead of Logan Cooley, whose 14 points ranked second. That nine-point gap was the most ever at the World Juniors, and Bedard’s output being 62 per cent superior to the second-place scorer was also the greatest gap ever. Bedard was named tournament MVP and IIHF Directorate Award Best Forward, and was also named to the Media All-Star Team. Playing for the Regina Pats in the WHL, Bedard also led that league and all of Canadian junior hockey in scoring. He totalled 143 points in 57 games, including a 35-game point streak. At season’s end, he became the first junior ever to be named Top Prospect, Top Player, and Top Scorer in the same season.

Adam Fantilli, Canada

Fantilli, 18, made history in 2023 by winning a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship and IIHF F IIHFWorld Championship in the same season, only the second Canadian to ever claim that double (Jonathan Toews) and only the 11^th player ever (and second youngest). At the World Juniors, he scored the game-winning goal against the United States in the semi-finals, and at the 2023 IIHF WM he scored arguably the best goal of the tournament, the game winner against Latvia also in the semi-finals. In addition to this IIHF double, Fantilli was the most dominant player in the NCAA this past season, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the MVP, only the third freshman (i.e., rookie) to win the coveted honour. He also led the NCAA in scoring with 65 points in just 35 games with the University of Michigan.

Dominik Kubalik, Czechia

Although the Czechs won only four of eight games at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Kubalik scored the game winner in two of those (Kazakhstan, Norway) and also had a hat trick against Slovenia. He also led the 2023 IIHF WM in goals (8) and power-play goals (6), his one-timer a weapon throughout the tournament. Kubalik was named to the Media All-Star Team as a forward. In league play, he skated for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL, finishing his fourth season with 20 goals and 45 points.

JJ Peterka, Germany

A key member of the surprising Germany team that advanced to the gold-medal game, Peterka was named the IIHF Directorate Award Best Forward as well as to the Media All-Star Team. He tied for second in tournament scoring with 12 points in 10 games (6 goals, 6 assists) and led the team with 29 shots during the tournament. Germany won an historic silver in Tampere, the nation’s best showing since 1953. Peterka played in the NHL this past season, his second with the Buffalo Sabres, during which time he had 12 goals and 32 points.

Moritz Seider, Germany

A teammate of Peterka’s during the team’s sensational run to the silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, defender Moritz Seider was also named to the Media All-Star Team. Although the team lost to Canada, 5-2, in the finals, Seider assisted on both German goals and led the team in average ice time during the tournament, logging 21:31 per game. He also played his sophomore season in the NHL, with Detroit, earning 5 goals and 42 points while playing the full 82-game schedule.

Arturs Silovs, Latvia

Silovs carried off three pieces of hardware from Tampere, and rightly so. The 22-year-old was named tournament MVP, IIHF Directorate Award Best Goalie, and the goaltender for the Media All-Star Team. He also appeared in every game for Latvia, his 601:00 total minutes played second all time for one IIHF WM event, and he was key to Latvia winning the bronze medal, the country’s first medal in any top-level IIHF event ever. Silovs had a save percentage of .921 and a GAA of 2.20, winning seven games. Additionally, he made his NHL debut this past season, appearing in five games for the Vancouver Canucks, sporting a 3-2 record and 2.75 GAA. He played most of the season with the team’s farm club in the AHL, Abbotsford, where he had a 26-12 record.