Four finalists named for 2026 Jeff Sauer Award

MADISON – Four students have been named as finalists for the ninth annual Jeff Sauer Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to recognize good high school hockey players being great people.

They are Teddy Westrick, a senior forward from Stevens Point Area Senior High; Addy Benson, a senior forward from Superior; Makenna Hutchison, a senior goalie who plays for the Hayward co-op; and Kaitlyn Juneau, a sophomore forward from the Lakeshore Lightning.

Westrick, who has scored eight goals and has 24 points, has been active in the Boys Scouts among his many community service activities in Stevens Point and has been a hockey official since he was 11 years old when not playing. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Benson is the captain of the Spartans and has scored 27 goals and 37 points and is a member of the honor society and also plays lacrosse. She said 2024 Jeff Sauer Humanitarian Award winner Autumn Cooper was among her role model and plans to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Mn.

Hutchison, an all-state goalie last season, spearheaded the “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” food drive, benefitting the Hayward Community Food Shelf in December Feb. 19, 2025. In total 216 pounds of food and $400 was donated to HCFS. Hutchison, who has posted a 1.49 goals against and .947 save percentage this season, plans to attend St. Norbert in DePere.

Juneau is among the leading scorers on the Lightning and has amassed many hours of community service at Cedarburg High School. She is the first sophomore to be a finalist for the Jeff Sauer Award.

Last year, Wyatt Ehrhardt of Middleton was the recipient of the award which hopes to encourage community service among girls and boys high school hockey players in the state of Wisconsin. It is named after the legendary former University of Wisconsin coach and hockey ambassador Jeff Sauer, who passed away in February, 2017.

The Coach Sauer Foundation, which sponsors the award, was very impressed with all the nominated candidates and their stories of student athletes who deserve notice for reasons that ultimately are more important than mere personal statistics.

The award will be presented as part of the Wisconsin High School Hockey Coaches annual dinner duringthe WIAA state tournament events in Middleton.