The player who truly represents what Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau stood for has been picked.
The sad events involving the Gaudreau family have deeply affected hockey lovers worldwide. The unexpected passings of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau shocked many hockey communities.
Even after their tragic loss on August 24th, 2024, the Gaudreau family has shown great strength and determination to keep the memories of Johnny and Matthew alive, especially in relation to hockey. One of the ways they are doing this is by starting The Gaudreau Award. This honor is given each year to a player in the United States Hockey League who shows excellence in hockey, good character, and the true spirit of the game. In simpler terms, it recognizes the player who best reflects the values of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
On Saturday, the USHL made it official that the second-ever winner of the award is 18-year-old Blake Zielinski. He plays for the Des Moines Buccaneers and has scored 25 goals and made 28 assists for a total of 53 points in just 52 games this season.
Even though Zielinski has achieved a lot in hockey, it seems that his character off the ice helped him stand out among other candidates for this award.
“Even with his great talent, Blake plays with modesty and respect for the game,” said head coach and president of hockey operations Derek Damon. “He knows that success comes from working as a team, and he always uses his skills not just to shine but to help lift the play and confidence of everyone around him.”
That description closely matches what players in the National Hockey League usually say about Johnny Gaudreau. This implies that Zielinski is a great pick for this award.
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