It is a rare feat in athletics, let alone college athletics, for an athlete to be equally as well known for their ability in the playing arena as they are for their service to others outside of it. Despite the rarity, that is exactly what University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey graduate senior Gabbie Hughes has accomplished

Hughes, one of only three players in NCAA Division I women's hockey history to be named both a Patty Kazmaier Top-3 Finalist and a Hockey Humanitarian Finalist, long has had the hockey part down. Already one of the seventh-highest scorers in Bulldog program history, the Lino Lakes, Minn. product currently leads the team with 22 points over 17 games (4g, 18a). Only four players at UMD have ever had more assists than Hughes, who ranks just five helpers out of the fourth spot and 12 out of a top-three slot. In all of college hockey right now, just one player has compiled more career points than Hughes has (190) – she doesn't just rank among UMD legends of the game, she ranks among all-time legends of the game.

But as most hockey fans in the state now know, that changed for Hughes on July 12, 2021. A month later, the Hughes family and family of Sophie Wieland created Sophie's Squad, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the mental health of athletes from the youth level to college by raising awareness of mental health issues and removing the stigma associated with getting help.

A year and four months later, Sophie's Squad is doing exactly what the organization set out to do.  And Hughes, long known for her hockey prowess, is now known equally for her commitment to mental health awareness. Passionate and as involved as ever, Hughes' quest to educate the hockey world and beyond, through the vein of Sophie's Squad, is unwavering.

"Looking back on the organization's journey, I just cannot help but smile," said Hughes recently. "Seeing the many different events we have had and the people we have impacted is so heartwarming. I believe we are helping people to understand that they are not alone and it's okay to not be okay. In the year we have been an organization, we have made a huge impact and I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for us. I know Soph would be so proud of what we are doing."

A spokesperson who has taken on a number of roles in the organization, Hughes is busy as ever. The only way to find out just how busy she is to ask those around her, because the Bulldog center doesn't openly shine her light of service on to herself.

Just this election day, on an NCAA mandatory day off from practice, Hughes drove to Children's Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. to tour a new 22-bed inpatient wing for youth and adolescent mental health patients. It was there that Hughes wrote out and helped present a $50,000 donation to help fund the athletic / play aspects of Children's Minnesota's new inpatient mental health unit. After the tour, Hughes drove all the way back to Duluth, a common experience over the past year for the uncommon advocate.

Sophie's Squad has had a year any nonprofit would be proud of, and as of Nov. 29, 2022, $219,706 has been raised for the organization. While the $50,000 donation to Children's Minnesota is by far the organization's biggest single donation, a majority of funds raised by Sophie's Squad events goes back into awareness events, providing educational resources and materials, as well as merchandise to student athletes participating in the events.

So far, Sophie's Squad has held more than 23 different events. And Hughes, who was part of the inception and creation of Sophie's Squad, is as involved in as many events as she can reasonably be, doing everything from serving as a keynote speaker to helping coordinate and run events, as well as running most social media accounts.

"Since I've known the Hughes family for eight years now, I have come to know that they are the most generous and passionate family I know, and Gabbie Hughes is no different," said Rick Fiester, Director of Medical Advisory and Education and board member. "Since the beginning of Sophie's Squad, she has been emphatically supportive and  involved. The passion she shares on and off the ice is immeasurable. As our spokesperson at the college level, her influence has made a lasting impact on many in the hockey community, from youth to adult and beyond. Trying to balance college, hockey, family and  with the addition of Sophie's Squad can be daunting at times I am sure, but Gabbie seems to use this to motivate her and be successful in all aspects. Her contributions to her community have a legacy feel to them and yet she humbly goes about her life not asking for recognition, but rather quietly making a difference in the world today regarding mental health."

Hughes rolled right out of last March's national championship game right into a lot of responsibilities within the organization. After jumping over to help at the Minnesota Hockey Expo Sophie's Squad booth in between NCAA Tournament games in mid-March in Minneapolis, Minn. (and scoring four goals to advance UMD into its second-straight NCAA Frozen Four), Hughes hit the ground running on March 24 and helped with the first-ever Minnesota Wild mental health game for Sophie's Squad. Hughes spoke at various summer events, and was an integral part of the Inaugural Sophie's Squad 5k Run/Walk and golf event on Sept. 10, 2022. Hughes helped plan it, organized it, rounded up participants and volunteers and even spoke at the event before the 5k to all participants. These may be things that others don't notice or observe on a daily basis, but for those inside the organization, they are paramount.

"Gabbie's commitment to mental health awareness extends well beyond the hockey world," said Mike Northquest, Sophie's Squad Director of Finance. "She took time out of an already busy schedule to participate in a walk through of MN Children's Hospital to better understand how health care professionals are treating the challenging mental health issues affecting our youth.  Time is a valuable asset and Gabbie is always willing to give up hers to assist others in their journey for better mental health." 

As both Bulldog hockey programs prepare for a Sophie's Squad double-header this weekend at AMSOIL Arena, you can be assured that Hughes has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help get the event to become a reality. The UMD team captain will stand in front of the media this week and remind everyone why what she is doing is important, and ultimately, why she does it in the first place – to honor Sophie Wieland. She will tell you that even she has struggled with mental health, and she will be a voice to the voiceless, an advocate for those that don't even know they may need one. And she will do it with all the passion that has made her one of the best college hockey players in both program history and college hockey history as a whole.

"Gabbie has been a tremendous ambassador for Sophie's Squad and champion of mental health awareness," said Matt Lee, Director of Marketing/Public Relations for Sophie's Squad. "Her position as one of the elite hockey players in the country, and the passion she brings to Sophie's Squad, has helped us advance our mission into Division I and Division III athletics.  Thanks to Gabbie speaking openly about her own struggles, we believe many other athletes have recognized that it's OK to not to be OK.  The example she is setting helps to remove the stigma associated with seeking help."

A year later, with more motivation than ever to make her legacy matter, Gabbie Hughes is just getting started. An athlete accomplishing a feat far greater than the confines of any arena.  


**The Bulldogs will host a Hockey Hits Back Sophie's Squad Mental Health Awareness Game this Saturday at AMSOIL when UMD takes on St. Thomas University at 3:00 p.m.  For more information on Sophie's Squad, click here.

To read more about Gabbie Hughes and how her journey as an advocate came to be, click here.