University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey senior center Gabbie Hughes has been named one of just five finalist for the 2022 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey's "finest citizen" for leadership in community service.

Hughes is heavily involved in 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.  The Lino Lakes, Minn. native was one of the founders of the organization, and is committed as a board/committee member who attends most meetings, runs all the social media accounts and works to promote the organization.  Hughes , who recently helped coordinate the Sophie's Squad, Hockey Hits Back game for the Bulldogs on Jan. 15 that raised $8,000 to provide resources to mental health organizations around Minnesota, is involved in the organization in many different ways.  Hughes does everything from help pack bags for game participants to lending her her presence at games behind the tables, driving all over Minnesota to support the organization.  All in on the importance of mental health, the assistant captain also joined the leadership board of the Green Bandana Project this fall.  The Green Bandana Project is a student athlete-led mental health awareness campaign at UMD that was started by the athletic department's SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) in the Fall of 2019.

Hughes is just the second Hockey Humanitarian finalist in program history.  Former Bulldog captain Zoe Hickel was a top-five finalist in 2015.
 

The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation selection committee narrowed the list of 11 nominees, which were announced  in late January. 
 

The 27th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award will be honored in a ceremony on Friday, April 8 as part of the  NCAA Men's Frozen Four weekend in Boston, Mass. Additionally, the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation will make  a donation to the charity most important to each of the three finalists. These donations are made possible with the generous  support of the award's partners and donors.

To read more about all of the finalists, click here.