2026 Gaudreau Award winner officially revealed.

The tragedy surrounding the Gaudreau family is one that has hit very close to home for hockey fans around the world with the untimely deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau sending shockwaves throughout several hockey communities.

Despite the terrible loss the Gaudreau family suffered on the night of August 24th, 2024, they have showed remarkable strength and resilience and have continued to carry on the legacies of both Johnny and Matthew, especially when it comes to the sport of hockey. One of the ways in which they have done so has been with the creation of The Gaudreau Award, an award given annually to the United States Hockey League player that best embodies excellence in hockey, character, and the spirit of the game. In other words, the player that best embodies the lives lived by Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

On Saturday, the USHL officially announced the second ever recipient of the award when they announced that 18 year old Blake Zielinski would be this year's award recipient. Zielinski is currently a member of the Des Moines Buccaneers where he had 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in just 52 games this season.

Despite his incredible success on the ice, it seems that Zielinski's character off the ice is what put him ahead of his competition when it comes to this award.

"Despite his elite talent, Blake competes with humility and respect for the game," said head coach and president of hockey operations Derek Damon. "He understands that success is built through team effort, and he consistently uses his ability not just to stand out, but to lift the performance and confidence of everyone around him."

That sounds very much like how teammates in the National Hockey League often described Johnny Gaudreau, suggesting that Zielinski has been an excellent choice for this award.