<p>The United States Hockey League has announced that Sioux Falls Stampede prospect Ethan Wyttenbach has been named the first recipient of the league’s Gaudreau Award, which is awarded to the player who “best embodies&nbsp;the&nbsp;legacy of&nbsp;<a href="https://ushl.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=16ccc754ad1bbf2e11da7c34d&amp;id=e05115dfa3&amp;e=1d9e4daa67" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnny and Matthew&nbsp;Gaudreau</a>.”</p>



<p>According to the league, “the&nbsp;award&nbsp;criteria are grounded in&nbsp;the&nbsp;personal and professional lives of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Gaudreau&nbsp;brothers, combining elements of on-ice excellence with joy, enthusiasm, care and responsibility.”</p>



<p>Wyttenbach is coming off his first season with the Stampere, scoring 23 goals and 49 points.</p>



<p>“Johnny and Matthew left an immeasurable impact on the communities where they lived and played. As a New Jersey native, I had the privilege of watching them grow up in our hockey community, with Guy behind the bench and Jane cheering proudly in the stands,” said USHL President and Commissioner Glenn Hefferan in a league statement. </p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<p>“They were not only exceptional players and teammates&nbsp;but, most importantly, extraordinary people. Their love for the game was only surpassed by their&nbsp;love&nbsp;for their families. As devoted husbands to Meredith and Madeline&nbsp;and loving fathers to their beautiful children, they led with the same integrity, passion, and humility they brought to the rink. This award was created to honor their legacy and to serve as a shining example of excellence, character, and heart both on and off the ice.”</p>



<p>Off the ice, Wyttenbach led the Stampede in community service hours while helping to feed those less fortunate in the Sioux Falls community. He worked with Feeding South Dakota, the St. Francis House and the Salvation Army.</p>



<p>The 18-year-old forward was rated 222nd overall by NHL Central Scouting in the mid-season rankings. Once rejected by the USA Hockey National Team Program, Wyttenbach used the motivation to become one of the USHL’s most productive draft-eligible forwards, earning NHL attention for his shot and ability to drive the net.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="164"></div>



<p>The Stampede will finish their regular season with a 6:05 PM local time start against the Fargo Force. Fargo won the previous meeting last night 6-3.</p>



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