Phil Esposito Trophy
List of winners
Table:
Season

Winner

Team

Pts

1963–64

Alain Caron

St. Louis Braves

125

1964–65

Tom McCarthy

Tulsa Oilers

97

1965–66

Art Stratton

St. Louis Braves

94

1966–67

Art Stratton

St. Louis Braves

90

1967–68

Ron Ward

Tulsa Oilers

85

1968–69

Jim Lorentz

Oklahoma City Blazers

101

1969–70

Jack Egers

Omaha Knights

90

1970–71

Pierre Jarry

Omaha Knights

92

1971–72

Ross Perkins

Fort Worth Texans

97

1972–73

Lyle Moffat*Tie

Tulsa Oilers

80 (40g, 40a, 71gp)

1972–73

Dan Gruen*Tie

Fort Worth Texans

80 (35g, 45a, 68gp)

1973–74

Wayne Schaab

Omaha Knights

89

1974–75

Wayne Schaab

Omaha Knights

85

1975–76

Jim Wiley

Tulsa Oilers

96

1976–77

Steve West

Oklahoma City Blazers

96

1977–78

Doug Palazzari

Salt Lake Golden Eagles

82

1978–79

Rick Shinske

Salt Lake Golden Eagles

88

1979–80

Doug Palazzari

Salt Lake Golden Eagles

109

1980–81

Joe Mullen

Salt Lake Golden Eagles

117

1981–82

Bob Francis

Oklahoma City Stars

114

With reference to the table and the context paragraphs listed.

Answer the following question: What was the nickname of the earliest winning athlete ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

The 1963-64 Central Professional Hockey League season was the first season of the Central Professional Hockey League , a North American minor pro league . Five teams participated in the regular season , and the Omaha Knights won the league title .
Joseph Paul Luc Alain Boom Boom Caron ( April 27 , 1938 - December 18 , 1986 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in various leagues from 1956 to 1976 .
The St. Louis Braves were a minor league hockey club located in St. Louis , Missouri . The team originated as the Syracuse Braves in the Eastern Professional Hockey League 's final season of 1962-63 . The team was moved to St. Louis mid-season , and continued in the new Central Hockey League after the EPHL ceased operations . They continued as an affiliate of the Chicago Black Hawks from 1963 until 1967 . The team played its home games at the St. Louis Arena , off Interstate 64 ( then US 40 ) across from Forest Park . They were the last minor-league hockey club to call St. Louis home prior to the arrival of the NHL 's Blues , in the fall of 1967 . At that time , the franchise was moved to Dallas , Texas and became the Dallas Black Hawks , who played 15 seasons until their demise in 1982 .
The 1964-65 Central Professional Hockey League season was the second season of the Central Professional Hockey League , a North American minor pro league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the St. Paul Rangers won the league title .
Thomas Francis Patrick McCarthy ( September 15 , 1934 - January 20 , 1992 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played four seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins . McCarthy was selected in the 15th round of the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins , going 88th overall . He married Marlene Weaver and became the father of two daughters and one son , Carol , Johan , and Martin . Furthermore , he was the grandfather of five grandchildren : two grandsons and three granddaughters , Bryan , Thomas , Erin , Holly , and Kelly . He died at Toronto in January 1992 .
The Tulsa Oilers are a defunct professional ice hockey team . The Oilers played 20 seasons in the Central Hockey League ( CHL ) , originally called the Central Professional Hockey League ( CPHL ) until 1968 , from 1964 to 1984 , capturing the Adams Cup three times . Based in Tulsa , Oklahoma , the team played their home games at the Tulsa Assembly Center until the 1983-84 season when they moved to Expo Square Pavilion . The team was also locally referred to as the Ice Oilers to differentiate from the Tulsa Oilers minor league baseball team .
The 1965-66 Central Professional Hockey League season was the third season of the Central Professional Hockey League , a North American minor pro league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Oklahoma City Blazers won the league title .
Arthur Stratton ( born October 8 , 1935 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player . He played 95 games in the NHL for 5 separate teams . These included the New York Rangers ( 18 games ) , Detroit Red Wings ( 5 games ) , Chicago Black Hawks ( 2 games ) , Pittsburgh Penguins ( 58 games ) , and Philadelphia Flyers ( 12 games ) . Stratton 's NHL career was scattered across 4 playing seasons between 1959 and 1968 , where he scored 18 goals and 33 assists . Stratton 's professional hockey career was more illustrious than his NHL statistics demonstrate . Starting in 1955 and playing straight until 1976 , he was only in the NHL for 4 seasons and with 5 different teams . Stratton contributed to the following professional hockey teams during his lengthy and productive career : St. Catharines Teepees , Cleveland Barons , North Bay Trappers , Winnipeg Warriors , Springfield Indians , Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers , Buffalo Bisons , Pittsburgh Hornets , St. Louis Braves , Seattle Totems , Tidewater Wings , Virginia Red Wings , Rochester Americans , Richmond Robins and Hampton Gulls . He holds the American Hockey League record for points in a game with 9 ( all assists ) while playing with the Buffalo Bisons against Pittsburgh March 17 , 1963 . Stratton also coached the Syracuse Eagles for part of the 1974/1975 American Hockey League Season . That year , the Eagles were last in the league standings , with a record of 21 games under .500 .
The 1966-67 Central Professional Hockey League season was the fourth season of the Central Professional Hockey League , a North American minor pro league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Oklahoma City Blazers won the league title .
The 1967-68 Central Professional Hockey League season was the fifth season of the Central Professional Hockey League , a North American minor pro league . Eight teams participated in the regular season , and the Tulsa Oilers won the league title .
Ronald Leon Magic Ward ( born September 12 , 1944 in Cornwall , Ontario ) was a National Hockey League player from 1970-1972 who played center for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks . He then switched to the fledgling World Hockey Association , playing for the New York Raiders in the 72-73 season . Of all his WHA years , this was his best year , as he amassed 51 goals and 67 assists for 118 points . Throughout the rest of his WHA career he went on to play for the Vancouver Blazers , Los Angeles Sharks , Cleveland Crusaders , Calgary Cowboys , Minnesota Fighting Saints , and ending with the Winnipeg Jets in 1976-77 .
The 1968-69 CHL season was the sixth season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Nine teams participated in the regular season , and the Dallas Black Hawks won the league title .
James Peter Lorentz , Jr. ( born May 1 , 1947 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins , St. Louis Blues , New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres . He won the Stanley Cup with Boston in 1970 . He was the color analyst for the Sabres on the MSG Network and the Sabres Radio Network . He worked alongside play-by-play commentator Rick Jeanneret .
The Oklahoma City Blazers are a defunct professional ice hockey team that were based in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma . They competed in the Central Professional Hockey League from 1965 to 1977 . The team played their home games in the Fairgrounds Arena , and later in Myriad Gardens . This team was created through the relocation of the Minneapolis Bruins , who began play in 1963 after originating as the Kingston Frontenacs of the defunct Eastern Professional Hockey League . Initially they were a Boston Bruins farm team . The first coach was Harry Sinden , and NHL stars Bernie Parent , Gerry Cheevers , Doug Favell , Reggie Leach , Rick MacLeish , Wayne Cashman , Ivan Boldirev , J. P. Parise , Ross Lonsberry , Dallas Smith , Bill Goldsworthy and Jean Pronovost played for the Blazers . The Bruins withdrew from the team in 1972 , but after a season without hockey , Maple Leaf Gardens Limited announced that they would relocate their Tulsa Oilers club of the CHL to become the reborn Oklahoma City Blazers , with Tulsa getting a replacement independent team . From 1973 to 1976 the team was affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and their roster included Mike Palmateer , Blaine Stoughton , Pat Boutette and all-time NHL penalty leader Dave Tiger Williams . Prior to the 1976-77 season the Maple Leafs decided to share the Dallas Black Hawks of the CHL with the Chicago Black Hawks as their affiliate , in an attempt to reduce costs . Gregg Sheppard was the franchise 's leading career scorer . Their home arenas were the Fairgrounds Arena and the Myriad Convention Center Arena . The Blazers won the CHL championship in 1966 under player-coach Harry Sinden and repeated in 1967 .
The 1969-70 CHL season was the seventh season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Seven teams participated in the regular season , and the Omaha Knights won the league title .
John Richard Jack Egers ( born January 28 , 1949 ) is a Canadian retired ice hockey right winger . Originally drafted in 1966 by the New York Rangers , Egers would also play for the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals . Egers is an original member of the Capitals , who claimed him in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft . He holds the distinction of scoring the first game-winning goal for the team , on October 17 , 1974 , against the Chicago Black Hawks . Egers is a retired captain for the Kitchener Fire Department .
The Omaha Knights was the name of three minor league professional ice hockey teams from 1959 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1975 , based in Omaha , Nebraska , at the Ak-Sar-Ben Arena . The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League . Following the 1962-63 season the team moved to Toledo , Ohio , becoming the Toledo Blades . A new Knights team joined the new Central Professional Hockey League for the 1963-64 season . This second iteration of the Knights moved to Houston , TX , to become the Houston Apollos after the 1964-65 season . After a year without a team , hockey returned to Omaha for the 1966-67 season after the Minnesota Rangers moved from Saint Paul , Minnesota , to vacate the market that the NHL 's Minnesota North Stars would soon occupy . The CPHL was renamed the Central Hockey League in 1968 , where the Knights continued to play until they folded after the 1974-75 season . Ken Wilson was the general manager from 1960-1963 . Goaltender Glenn Ramsay won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the fewest goals against during the 1961-62 and the 1962-63 regular seasons . The Rookie of the Year Trophy was awarded to Knights ' player John Gravel in 1963 .
The 1970-71 CHL season was the eighth season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Seven teams participated in the regular season , and the Omaha Knights won the league title .
Pierre Joseph Raynald Jarry ( born March 30 , 1949 in Montreal , Quebec ) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 344 games in the National Hockey League and 18 games in the World Hockey Association . He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs , New York Rangers , Minnesota North Stars , Detroit Red Wings , and Edmonton Oilers .
The 1971-72 CHL season was the ninth season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Dallas Black Hawks won the league title .
Ross Perkins ( born November 4 , 1946 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward . He played 225 games in the World Hockey Association with the Edmonton Oilers .
The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth , Texas . They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings , a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings . They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum . The team won their only Adams Cup Championship , in 1978 by defeating their arch rival Dallas Black Hawks 5-4 in overtime of game seven of the finals .
The 1972-73 CHL season was the tenth season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Four teams participated in the regular season , and the Omaha Knights won the league title . The league played an inter-locking schedule with the Western Hockey League .
Lyle Gordon Moffat ( born March 19 , 1948 ) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 96 games in the National Hockey League and 276 games in the World Hockey Association . He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs , Cleveland Crusaders , and Winnipeg Jets .
Daniel Patrick Gruen ( born June 26 , 1952 ) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 49 games in the National Hockey League and 181 games in the World Hockey Association . He played with the Colorado Rockies , Detroit Red Wings , Michigan Stags , Winnipeg Jets , Cleveland Crusaders , Calgary Cowboys , and Minnesota Fighting Saints .
The 1973-74 CHL season was the 11th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Dallas Black Hawks won the league title .
Wayne Schaab ( born December 3 , 1948 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player . While he never played in the NHL , he was a top point producer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s in the AHL with the Richmond Robins and Maine Mariners , the CHL with the Omaha Knights , and the EHL with the Charlotte Checkers .
The 1974-75 CHL season was the 12th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Eight teams participated in the regular season , and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles won the league title .
The 1975-76 CHL season was the 13th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Tulsa Oilers won the league title .
James Thomas Wiley ( born April 28 , 1950 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey center who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League between 1972 and 1977 . He would later serve as head coach of the San Jose Sharks during the 1995-96 NHL season .
The 1976-77 CHL season was the 14th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Kansas City Blues won the league title .
Steve West ( born March 20 , 1952 ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward . Born in Peterborough , Ontario , West played 142 games in the World Hockey Association with the Michigan Stags , Baltimore Blades , Houston Aeros and Winnipeg Jets .
The 1977-78 CHL season was the 15th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Fort Worth Texans won the league title .
Douglas John Palazzari ( born November 3 , 1952 in Eveleth , Minnesota ) is a former professional ice hockey player and USA Hockey executive . He is the son of former NHL player Aldo Palazzari . Too small to become a regular in the National Hockey League , Doug Palazzari played a total of 108 games for the St. Louis Blues in 1974-79 but he spent most of his professional career in the minors with the Providence Reds , Kansas City Blues and Salt Lake Golden Eagles where he was a major star . Before turning professional , he was an accomplished player for the Colorado College men 's ice hockey team and he also played for the United States national team at the 1973 and 1974 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments . Palazzari was also a member of the United States team at the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup . Palazzari is perhaps best known for his management work for amateur hockey in the United States after retiring from professional hockey in 1982 . He was elected executive director of USA Hockey in 1999 after spending 14 years with the organization in various capabilities . He resigned as director in 2005 . Palazzari was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 .
The Salt Lake Golden Eagles were a minor professional hockey team based in Salt Lake City from 1969 to 1994 . They played in the Western Hockey League from 1969 to 1974 , the Central Hockey League from 1974 to 1984 and the International Hockey League from 1984 to 1994 . The Golden Eagles home arena was the Salt Palace from 1969 to 1991 and the Delta Center ( now called Vivint Smart Home Arena ) from 1991 to 1994 . In 1994 Larry H. Miller , who also owned the Utah Jazz and the Delta Center , sold the team to Detroit interests . The Golden Eagles became the Detroit Vipers .
The 1978-79 CHL season was the 16th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Six teams participated in the regular season , and the Dallas Black Hawks won the league title .
Richard Charles Shinske ( May 31 , 1955 - October 23 , 2012 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 63 games in the National Hockey League for the Cleveland Barons and St. Louis Blues . Shinske played for the New Westminster Bruins of the WHL . He is the son of Ernie 'Punch McLean 's longtime partner and former general manager of the Estevan Bruins , Bill Shinske . He died of cancer in 2012 . He was survived by his wife Janice , son , Grady and daughter , Bailey .
The 1979-80 CHL season was the 17th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Nine teams participated in the regular season , and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles won the league title .
The 1980-81 CHL season was the 18th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Nine teams participated in the regular season , and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles won the league title .
Joseph Patrick Mullen ( born February 26 , 1957 ) is an American former professional ice hockey player . He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) with the St. Louis Blues , Calgary Flames , Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins between 1980 and 1997 . He was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams , winning with the Flames in 1989 and the Penguins in 1991 and 1992 . Mullen turned to coaching in 2000 , serving as an assistant in Pittsburgh and briefly as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins . He was an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2007 to 2017 . An undrafted player , Mullen was an all-star for the Boston College Eagles before turning professional in the Blues ' organization . He was named the Central Hockey League ( CHL ) rookie of the year in 1980 and most valuable player in 1981 as a member of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles . He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL 's most gentlemanly player on two occasions as a member of the Flames , as well as the NHL Plus-Minus Award . Mullen was named to the First All-Star Team in 1988-89 and played in three NHL All-Star Games . Mullen played with the United States National Team on several occasions , including three Canada Cup tournaments . He was the first American player to score 500 goals and to reach 1,000 points in his career . Mullen received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1995 in recognition of his contributions to the sport in the United States .
The 1981-82 CHL season was the 19th season of the Central Hockey League , a North American minor professional league . Nine teams participated in the regular season , and the Indianapolis Checkers won the league title .
Robert Emile Francis ( born December 5 , 1958 ) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey player and coach . He was the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) from June 1999 to February 2004 . In 2002 Francis became the first Coyotes ' coach to win the Jack Adams Award . He is the son of former NHL general manager and coach Emile Francis .
The Oklahoma City Stars are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma City University , located in Oklahoma City , in the U.S. state of Oklahoma . The university fields 17 varsity sports teams , and these teams compete in the NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference in all sports except women 's wrestling which competes in the Women 's College Wrestling Association . Until 1985 , the Stars competed in the NCAA Division I Horizon League , which was known as the Midwestern City Conference at that time .