The Calder Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the best rookie of the year as voted upon by the ECHL GM Awards Committee at the end of the regular season. It is named after Frank Calder, the president of the NHL from its inception in 1917 to his sudden death in 1943.

Although rookie of the year honours were handed out since the 1932-33 NHL season, the Calder Trophy was first presented in the 1936-37 NHL season. Upon Calder's death, the trophy was renamed the Calder Memorial Trophy in his memory. It was purchased by the ECHL prior to the 2004-2005 season.

ECHL4 Calder Memorial Trophy Winner

JACK SKILLE, RW
New York Islanders

The third member of the ECHL3 3rd round draft club to get a Calder nomination, Skille was selected 80th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning only to find himself unable to break through the league's strongest club. Paired up with a case of Brio, Skille found himself en route to the rebuilding Islanders for a 1st round pick (and some tomato sauce), and he didn't disappoint his GM. His 32 goals and 78 points were tops amongst all ECHL rookies, and second on the Isles, besting such luminaries as Radek Bonk, Michael Peca, and Brendan Shanahan. Boasting six game winners it seems the Islanders will be high on Skille for seasons to come.

Previous Calder Memorial Trophy Winners
ECHL3 Tuomo Ruutu, Buffalo
ECHL2 Jeff Glass, Nashville
ECHL1 Scott Hartnell, Toronto