USA Hockey Reveals Recipients of 2026 Annual Awards
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey will honor 13 outstanding individuals at its President’s Awards Dinner on Friday, June 5, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, as part of its four-day Annual Meeting commencing on June 3.
Don Bradford (Wausau, Wis.) will be awarded the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award, while Mark Carlson (Ely, Iowa) will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award. Donna Guariglia (Morristown, N.J.) will be recognized as the ninth recipient of USA Hockey’s Builders Award.
Player of the year awards will be presented to Adult Player of the Year, Kelley Steadman (Plattsburgh, N.Y.), Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year, Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.), Jim Johannson College Player of the Year, Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn.), Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year, Caleb Heil (Victoria, Minn.), Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year, Alex Pelletier (Granby, Conn.), and the Disabled Athlete of the Year, Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.).
Annual Award Winners
Longtime USA Hockey athletic trainer Stan Wong (Boca Raton, Fla.) will receive the Dr. Alan Ashare Excellence in Safety Award. Other award recipients include John Beadle Adult Member of the Year, Andy Cole (Seattle, Wash.), Chet Stewart Award winner, Mark Verplaetse (Centerville, Minn.), and Walter Yaciuk Award recipient, the late Mike Norton (Culver, Ind.).
Additionally, USA Hockey will recognize a group of individuals with service awards during the President’s Awards Dinner. For the complete list, click HERE.
Wm. Thayer Tutt Award – Don Bradford
The development and success of hockey at the grassroots level in Wisconsin can be attributed to Don Bradford. A player who discovered his passion for the sport on the frozen ponds of the Badger State, Bradford has dedicated the last fifty years to the game that has given him so much, working with enthusiasm, commitment, and humility to enhance hockey in Wisconsin.
Bradford’s lifelong journey in hockey began as a young player, evolving into roles as a coach, hockey parent, and volunteer over the years.
Growing up in Eagle River, Wisconsin, Bradford participated in youth and high school hockey within one of the state’s oldest programs, winning the unofficial Wisconsin state high school tournament in 1964, before continuing his education at the University of Wisconsin – Superior.
After serving two years in the military, Bradford launched his coaching career at Wausau West High School in 1975, where he also taught business and accounting. During his three seasons coaching at Wausau, he recognized the necessity to enhance grassroots programming in Wisconsin, ultimately redirecting his focus towards youth development and increasing access to the sport throughout the region.
In the years that followed, Bradford emerged as a foundational leader in youth hockey in the area, committing himself to provide programming, development opportunities, and equipment to local associations.
Through leadership roles with what is now known as Wausau Youth Hockey and the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association, Bradford’s contributions have significantly influenced the sport. He collaborated with local municipalities to construct additional rinks, many of which he helped build personally, and partnered with philanthropic organizations to secure nearly half a million dollars worth of equipment, leading initiatives to donate thousands of pieces of hockey gear to local associations. Bradford’s dedication to accessibility has allowed children across Wisconsin to experience hockey for the first time.
Even today, Bradford can be found welcoming children at the rink, collaborating with partners to distribute equipment statewide, or taking to the ice himself to inspire the next generation, which is the cornerstone of his commitment to expanding the sport.
Inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, Bradford’s legacy is solidified in the players he has welcomed into the hockey community, the coaches he has mentored, and the relationships he has cultivated on and off the ice.
Distinguished Achievement Award – Mark Carlson
Mark Carlson’s achievements are not solely measured by the victories on the ice. While the wins have been fulfilling, it is the personal growth and development of the countless athletes he has coached and mentored throughout his career that truly inspires the esteemed coach each day.
A native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Carlson’s hockey journey began as a player, bringing his enthusiasm for the game to UMass-Lowell, before transitioning into coaching, embarking on a celebrated career behind the bench.
After spending several years in assistant roles at Lowell and Northeastern, he found a new home in 1999 with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League, where he has established one of the most impressive coaching records in junior hockey history.
Over his 26-year tenure as head coach and general manager, he has coached in a USHL record 1,532 games and on October 3, 2025, achieved his 779th win, the highest number of regular-season victories in league history. Under Carlson’s leadership, Cedar Rapids has claimed the Anderson Cup as the USHL’s regular season champions in 2005, 2011, and 2016, reached the Clark Cup playoffs 20 times, and maintained a winning record in all but six of his seasons.
One of the most notable seasons for Carlson and the RoughRiders occurred in 2004-05 when he led the team to a program-record 42 wins, culminating in the team’s first-ever Clark Cup championship.
His leadership has been acknowledged throughout the league, having been named USHL Coach of the Year four times (2026, 2016, 2011, 2005), including this season.
On the international front, he guided Team USA to consecutive World Junior A Challenge titles in 2008 and 2009, initiating a successful run for the red, white, and blue that included six tournament championships in seven years.
The first and only coach in RoughRiders history, Carlson’s legacy extends well beyond the scoreboard. For nearly three decades, he has influenced the future of American hockey stars both on and off the ice, through a commitment to mentorship, integrity, and leadership.
Builders Award – Donna Guariglia
As a pivotal figure in the growth of hockey in the United States, Donna Guariglia’s vision and commitment have significantly influenced the direction of USA Hockey.
Raised in a hockey family, Guariglia has spent her entire life immersed in the sport, transforming her enthusiasm for hockey into vision and action.
As a volunteer for her local New Jersey Colonials program, including serving as board president, she was instrumental in advancing girls and women’s hockey in the Garden State. In 2004, she established the Colonials’ Girls Hockey Program, which continues to thrive today, along with the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Hockey Association, aimed at expanding grassroots opportunities for female players throughout the Atlantic District.
In the more than twenty years since, girls and women’s hockey has expanded nearly 120 percent in the Atlantic District, reflecting the leadership, dedication, and foresight of the Morristown, New Jersey, native.
Guariglia’s commitment to service extended beyond New Jersey, and in 2008 she joined USA Hockey at the national level in various roles, including a five-year term as chair of the Girls and Women’s Section. Over the years, Guariglia has also been a prominent advocate for advancing USA Hockey’s diversity initiatives, serving as chair of the organization’s committee focused on creating a more inclusive environment for those interested in hockey nationwide.
In 2015, Guariglia was elected as treasurer of USA Hockey, making history as the first female officer in the organization. Throughout her more than decade-long tenure, she has helped steer USA Hockey during a period marked by growth and international success, as well as unprecedented challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic – consistently demonstrating unwavering leadership, transparency, and a long-term vision for the organization.
The Builder’s Award honors those who not only contribute to the game but also help shape its future. Guariglia has established a foundation upon which generations of players, coaches, officials, and volunteers will continue to build.
Walter Yaciuk Award – Mike Norton
Mike Norton was a vital supporter of USA Hockey’s coaching education program across the Mid-American district for over 25 years before his passing in 2024.
Throughout his career as a coach developer, Norton’s positivity, willingness to dedicate his time to assist other coaches, and his ability to adapt and embrace change are noteworthy. After becoming a USA Hockey coach developer in 1999, Norton organized USA Hockey coaching clinics throughout the year, typically hosting up to six clinics in a weekend.
When coaching clinics transitioned to a virtual format in 2020, Norton conducted online coaching clinics every Wednesday, ensuring he went the extra mile for his groups by participating in prior clinics to familiarize himself with the class he would be working with, and remaining long after his sessions concluded to work individually with coaches and address every attendee’s inquiries.
Additionally, Norton was selected as a speaker for USA Hockey coaching clinics throughout his career, and hosted clinics at Miami University and Culver Academy.
As a player, Norton skated for four seasons in college between Saint Louis University and Miami University in the late 1970s.
After graduating from Miami, Norton entered the coaching field, initially with his alma mater’s men’s club hockey team before serving one season as head coach of NCAA Division III Wisconsin-River Falls. He returned to Miami as an assistant from 1985-1991.
Additionally, Norton held the position of assistant athletic director at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, from 1993-2015, before returning to Miami University in 2015 to become the director of hockey at Goggins Ice Center and general manager of the Miami University ACHA Division II men’s club hockey program, where he collaborated closely with the University’s coaches, as well as local youth hockey associations, to implement the principles of USA Hockey’s American Development Model at all levels.
Chet Stewart Award – Mark Verplaetse
A longtime official and volunteer with USA Hockey, Mark Verplaetse’s influence on the sport extends well beyond officiating, contributing to the advancement of officiating in Minnesota and beyond.
An on-ice official since 1980, Verplaetse has devoted over four decades to officiating and officiating development in his home state of Minnesota, taking on various leadership and mentorship roles within the officiating community with USA Hockey and the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association.
During his time on the ice, Verplaetse officiated games at all levels in Minnesota, ultimately achieving a USA Hockey Level 3 certification.
Passionate about training the next generation of officials, the Centerville, Minnesota, native has been a seminar instructor since 1995. In the early 2000s, he became a Minnesota District 10 evaluator, mentor, and seminar coordinator, roles he continues to fulfill today.
His efforts have inspired thousands to take up officiating, providing many with a meaningful way to remain connected to the sport.
Known for his innovative thinking, Verplaetse also established a unique partnership with the Minnesota Wild, hosting clinics on the same ice where their professional counterparts skate and offering new officials the chance to complete their USA Hockey Level 1 certification, the initial step in any official’s journey.
Outside of the rink, Verplaetse spent his professional career with IBM as a software product manager.
Dr. Alan Ashare Excellence in Safety Award – Stan Wong
Stan Wong has been a dedicated contributor to USA Hockey for over two decades. A prominent figure in the hockey community since 1986, Wong’s commitment to hockey and athlete welfare spans 40 years as an athletic trainer.
After starting his career with positions in the NFL and USFL, Wong began his hockey journey as head athletic trainer for the Washington Capitals from 1986-1999. Following another three seasons as an NHL head athletic trainer with the Florida Panthers, Wong embarked on his multi-decade association with USA Hockey.
The Boca Raton, Fla., native’s first Team USA assignment was as the athletic trainer for the 2002 Deutschland Cup, a role he has held ten times. In 2003, he made his IIHF debut as athletic trainer for the U.S. National Junior Team at the World Junior Championship. He has continued to serve in this capacity every year since, being part of the staff for all seven gold-medal winning teams in U.S. history at the World Juniors.
In addition to his work with the U.S. National Junior Team, Wong has also been part of the staff for five U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Teams, including the 2010 silver-medal winning squad. Wong has been a consistent presence for the U.S. Men’s National Team, serving on staff for 18 IIHF Men’s World Championship tournaments, including when Team USA captured its first gold medal at the event in 92 years in 2025.
For his consistent excellence in international hockey, Wong received the 2020 Bob Johnson Award from USA Hockey. He was also inducted into the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society and the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers Hall of Fame in 2015.
John Beadle Adult Member of the Year – Andy Cole
Andy Cole, a longtime advocate for hockey in the Seattle area, has played a significant role in promoting the game among adults in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years.
After relocating to Seattle from the east coast of the U.S. many years ago, Cole established the Greater Seattle Hockey League (GSHL) in 2001. Over the next two decades, he helped expand the league to over 2,000 participants and 115 teams, creating the largest adult ice hockey league in the region.
With the arrival of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, a unique opportunity emerged. The GSHL and Kraken collaborated to further the sport’s growth in the area. The GSHL became the Kraken Hockey League (KHL), as Cole transitioned to a position with the NHL club as Adult Hockey Director, while continuing his role as the league’s commissioner.
Building a player base in the Seattle area has been a challenge Cole has embraced, hosting Kraken Learn to Play sessions throughout the year to introduce new individuals to hockey. The eight-to-10-week courses run consecutively, providing ongoing opportunities for engagement.
The Learn to Play courses have successfully attracted new players to the KHL, with Cole estimating that approximately 90 percent of LTP participants immediately register for the league upon completion of their course.
Although Cole is not originally from Seattle, through his relentless efforts and support of the sport for over two and a half decades, he has become a vital part of the hockey community in the region. Through his work with the GSHL, KHL, and Seattle Kraken, he continues to be a cornerstone for adult hockey in the Pacific Northwest.
Adult Player of the Year – Kelley Steadman
Kelley Steadman, a two-time IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medalist, has made significant contributions to hockey beyond her tenure with the U.S. Women’s National Team, influencing the next generation as the Girls Hockey Development Coordinator for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, and through her commitment to participating as an adult hockey player.
Notable for her gold medals at the 2013 and 2011 IIHF Women’s World Championships and the 2008 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, Steadman played four seasons at Mercyhurst University, followed by two seasons in the National Women’s Hockey League. She participated in two NWHL All-Star Games and won the Isobel Cup, the league championship, in her final season of professional hockey in 2016-17 with the Buffalo Beauts.
The Plattsburgh, New York, native spent three seasons on staff at Robert Morris University (2014-17), before returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach until 2021.
In that same year, Steadman joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as a hockey ambassador, transitioning to her current role the following year. What began as a program with approximately 25 players has expanded to over 200 girls, ranging from learn to skate to Tier II (AA) girls travel teams from 10U to 19U.
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