Friday officially confirmed what most hockey fans in Minnesota are well aware of -- Gabbie Hughes is the biggest humanitarian in the sport of collegiate hockey.
The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey graduate senior was named the 2023 recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award, announced Friday by the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation at the NCAA Men's Frozen Four awards ceremony.
Hughes, a native of Lino Lakes, Minn., is the 28th honoree of the award dating back to 1996, is the first-ever for any Bulldog hockey program, men or women's, and the third student-athlete from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to be selected. Currently suiting up for the U.S. National Team in Brampton, Ontario in the 2023 IIHF World Championship, Hughes was recognized virtually Friday night alongside the recipients of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, the Mike Richter Award and the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
A 2022 Patty Kazmaier top-3 finalist (and one of three-ever to be a Patty Kaz finalist and Hockey Humanitarian finalist), Hughes was one of three-repeat finalists from last season, along with three-time finalists Jacob Adkins (Centennial, Col.) and Andrew Walker (Mason, Mich.) from UMass Boston, and two-time finalist Hannah Price (Pittsburgh, Pa.) from Rensselaer. Ryan Herpy (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) of Albertus Magnus and Will Rosen (Washington, D.C.) of Saint Anselm were the other two finalists.
"This means a lot more to me than just a personal victory, it's a victory for mental health awareness in general," said Hughes. "I think having mental health on a platform like this and getting Sophie's Squad's name out there to have everyone know what we're about and what we are doing is extremely important, and I think being selected for this award will help us continue to spread that awareness and reach more people beyond Minnesota. It's a great honor for me, but it's a much bigger deal for Sophie's Squad and mental health awareness, and that's the most important piece."
The award is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen - a student athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team, but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism.
Hughes has made an impact statewide in Minnesota as an integral part of the Sophie's Squad organization, a non-profit that she helped co-found, to combat mental health that to date has earned more $286k for mental health resources and advocacy in its less than two years existence. Sophie's Squad has put on more than 43 events over that span, including its first-ever DI women's and men's double header Hockey Hits Back on Dec. 12, 2022 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. Hughes has participated in every single event that didn't conflict with her hockey schedule and has contributed time recording speeches and social media postings at the events she couldn't attend. Hughes is deeply involved as a speaker at statewide events, from everything to the UMD coaching staff on mental health to high school teams before they play in the Sophie Squad games to the keynote speaker at the 5k run/walk last summer. She is passionate about speaking to teenagers and uses her own story of mental health struggles to encourage kids of all ages to talk about theirs too. She has become synonymous with encouraging others to speak up and has had a heavy involvement in changing the narrative and the stigma associated with mental health.
"Gabbie was part of and helped lead the initial brainstorming of Sophie's Squad while in Boston the summer of 2021," Sophie's Squad Board Members said in a statement. "She helped with the initial formation of our group, made numerous drives down and back from school to attend and help with events, covered event social media, represented Sophie's Squad in so many media interviews and speaking engagements at many of Sophie's Squad events as well as other organizations events. She has been instrumental in our events at UMD, bringing Sophie's Squad to the college level for both women and men. And these are just some examples of Gabbie's commitment to and passion for Sophie's Squad that we are so proud of. In addition, Gabbie is the type of athlete we seek to help, and has been a shining example of how athletes can help other athletes. As our first Ambassador, she is instrumental in delivering our message of Hope and Help. She has set the example for future generations by sharing her struggles, and demonstrating that it's OK to not be OK. Hockey can teach so many life lessons, but none more important than individual athlete mental health in a team setting. Gabbie has helped us share the message of checking in on your own mental health and, perhaps more critically, the mental health of your teammates. We are honored and thrilled you have chosen Gabbie Hughes as your 2023 Hockey Humanitarian Award recipient."
"Gabbie has cemented herself as a legend on a long list of Olympians and renowned women's hockey players that have proudly worn the Minnesota Duluth Bulldog, said UMD head coach Maura Crowell." "She has over 200 points in her storied on-ice career, but this recognition, winning the Hockey Humanitarian Award in honor of Sophie Wieland and her work with Sophie's Squad, is the highest honor of her career. We are so grateful to Gabbie for the mental health awareness that she has brought to our program and community."
On Friday night, the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation virtually presented Hughes with a check for $3,000 for Sophie's Squad. The other four finalists each received $500 for their respective designated charities. These donations from the HHA Foundation are possible through the generous support of the awards partners and donors.
For more information about the award, visit
www.hockeyhumanitarian.org.
For the Sophie's Squad Board Members full statement, see banner link above.
