SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League was honored Ryan Holt, vice president of marketing and communications for the Bakersfield Condors, and Mason Wilksdirector of ticket sales and service for the San Jose Barracuda, with league awards in 2026 Team Business Meetings presented by Victory Live in Grand Rapids, Mich., today.
Holt was named the league’s Ken McKenzie Award winner for the 2025-26 season, and Wilks was named the recipient of the Frank Torres Memorial Award.
Recognizing the important role team managers play in building a successful franchise, the Ken McKenzie Award is presented annually to the AHL team manager who most successfully develops his club.
Since joining the Condors organization in 2011, Holt has been instrumental in the growth of the franchise and its value to the Bakersfield community. Acting as the team’s sales and communications leader, he helped guide the organization to record levels of revenue through advertising, community involvement and team and player promotions. Holt is the organization’s primary media coordinator, maximizing local and national media exposure for players, promotions and events while serving as the team’s play-by-play announcer. This season, he has had many successful programs including Condors Fighting Cancer Night and Cares for Kids at the Holiday.
The AHL’s Ken McKenzie Award, first presented in 1978, is honored Ken McKenziefounder and longtime publisher of The Hockey News and honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 as the winner of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award. McKenzie was also the NHL’s first advertising director and creator of its first media guide.
The Frank Torres Memorial Award is given to an individual in recognition of outstanding leadership in business development or sales while exemplifying creativity, support and integrity.
Promoted to director of ticket sales and service last summer, Wilks guided the Barracuda sales team to outstanding results in 2025-26, including significant growth in season ticket sales and team ticket sales. The team also continued to set new single-game benchmarks in multiple categories, including gate revenue, team tickets and premium seats. Wilks has successfully navigated a season that has seen huge returns in the marketing department, maintaining high levels of performance and demonstrating forward-thinking leadership. Wilks joined the Barracuda in 2023 after serving in ticket sales roles with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and San Antonio Rampage; Frank Torres recruited Wilks to all three teams.
The award was established in 2024 following a sudden death Frank Torresvice president of business operations for the San Jose Barracuda.
Operating since 1936 and celebrating its 90th season this year, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 32 teams in the National Hockey League. About 90 percent of today’s NHL players graduated from the American Hockey League, and more than 100 members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL during their careers.
