SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes today announced their 2022 club award winners, which includes Jeremy Ebobisse as Offensive Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year; JT Marcinkowski as Defensive Player of the Year; Benji Kikanović as Young Player of the Year; Tommy Thompson as the Media Good Guy; and Shea Salinas for the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award/Humanitarian of the Year.
Ebobisse currently leads the team with 16 goals, setting a new single season career high (11 – 2019) while recording four multi-goal games. His 16 goals are tied for the third most in a single season in club history and are the most among all players other than Chris Wondolowski. Ebobisse has also been a consistent presence in the lineup for San Jose, being the only player to start all 32 regular season matches to date.
Ebobisse is also named the Players’ Player of the Year. The honor recognizes the best teammate and locker room presence, as voted on by players.
Marcinkowski is named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year. The 25-year-old Homegrown has started 31 of the 32 regular season matches to date and made 105 saves, tied for the most in MLS.
Kikanović earns the club’s Young Player of the Year award, given to the most impactful player 23 years of age or younger on matchday one. In his second professional season, Kikanović set new career highs in appearances (28), starts (15), minutes (1,287), goals (5), and assists (3). His five goals and three assists rank third and fifth on the team, respectively.
Thompson is named the Media Good Guy Award winner, as voted on by members of the club’s local media and broadcast teams. The award recognizes the player that’s deemed most open and welcoming to media requests.
Salinas earns his fifth Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game/Humanitarian of the Year Award (2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015). Salinas has been a pillar for the San Jose community and has shown dedication in growing youth soccer around the Bay Area. Salinas has specifically participated in the club’s Get Earthquakes Fit program and has visited and spoken to hundreds of students about the importance of school and fitness while also eating healthy and staying hydrated throughout the day. He has always been a reliable individual and truly loves giving back to the club that he’s been a part of for so long and show his passion and spirit for the game on and off the pitch.
The award is named for Andrew Bedard, a young Earthquakes fan who passed away at eight years old in 2004. The Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award will be presented annually to the Earthquakes player that works hard in the community and best embodies Andrew’s positive attitude both on and off the field. For more information on the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award, please visit www.sjearthquakes.com/spiritofthegame/award.
