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// JUNE 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM
USA Hockey Celebrated Some Of The Sport's Most Accomplished Contributors
and Players During The Organization's Annual President's Awards Dinner In Early June As
Part Of The USA Hockey Annual Meeting At the Denver Marriot Tech Center.
AN ENDLESS
LOVE &
COMMITMENT
TO THE GAME
2026
President's Awards
The growth of grassroots hockey in
Wisconsin is deeply rooted in the five-
decade dedication of Don Bradford. Raised
in Eagle River, Bradford won an unofficial
high school state championship in 1964,
played for U W-Superior, and ser ved in the
military before launching his coaching
career at Wausau West High School in 1975.
Recognizing a need for stronger grass-
roots programming, Bradford shifted his
focus from high school coaching to youth
development and accessibility. As a founda-
tional leader within Wausau Youth Hockey
and the Wisconsin A mateur Hockey
Association, he partnered with local
municipalities to construct new rinks and
secured nearly $500,000 in philanthropic
funding to donate thousands of pieces of
equipment to local children.
Inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey
Hall of Fame in 2009, Bradford still
actively welcomes new players, distributes
equipment, and takes the ice to inspire the
next generation.
DON BRADFORD, DECADES OF HELPING GROW HOCKEY
IN WISCONSIN
Don Bradford
Wm. Thayer Tutt Award
Click to
read more on
Bradford
Historic
golden
sweep
earns
the
U.S.
Men's,
Women's
and
Sled
Teams
the
2026
Bob
Johnson
Award
