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THE HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Arguably the highest individual honor in the sport of college ice hockey, the Hockey Humanitarian Award bridges any gender gap between the men's and women's game as well as any perceived talent gap between divisions. Annually presented to the athlete that most demonstrates the highest qualities of humanity, the award has become a symbol for everything that is right with college athletics, and it is an honor just to be nominated for the award, or to be selected as one of the five annual finalists. First presented to Boston University's J.P. McKersie in 1996, the prestigious award has been claimed in each of the last two seasons by Hockey East athletes, by Northeastern goaltender Chanda Gunn in 2003-04 and by Boston College defenseman Sarah Carlson in 2004-05. Maine's Jim Leger was the other Hockey East winner, receiving the award for 1999-2000. Hockey East has also had four other Hockey Humanitarian finalists.

MISSION STATEMENT

In an era of ever-increasing ego display, when so many of today's athletes are sending the wrong message to our children and when success often seems measured solely by dollar signs and contract signings, it is time to call attention to individuals who embody all that is, and can be, right with sport. While the media often seem preoccupied with the antics of players after the whistle or outside the game - all the while decrying the absence of better role models for our youth - the Hockey Humanitarians want to put sports, and all of its participants, in the proper perspective. And, while team games, by definition, encompass both teamwork and the contributions of the individual to the success of the group as a whole, we want to acknowledge the accomplishments of personal character, scholarship, and the giving of oneself off the ice to the larger community as well. The Humanitarian Award is meant to be seen as a true measure of a person's worth, not just as an athlete, but as someone who embodies those values that merit our recognition.

It is our hope that in some small way such a display will have a positive influence on future generations of hockey players. We feel an obligation to help our children find the proper balance as they confront deciding who their role models are and what values they should embrace in this increasingly complex world. Our foundation believes there are Humanitarians to be found in programs everywhere and that it is time for many in the media to reconsider their focus on the frequently destructive and selfish behavior of those athletes who often receive too much of our attention. We feel that the great majority of us share the values represented by The Humanitarian Award and that the time has come for this message to be more widely disseminated.
HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNERS
(Hockey East winners in bold)
1996-97
J.P. McKersie, Boston University
1997-98
Erik Raygor, Wisconsin
1998-99
Kristine Pierce, Rochester Inst. of Technology
1999-00
Jim Leger, Maine
(Finalist: Craig Brown, UMass Lowell)
2000-01
Jason Cupp, Nebraska-Omaha
2001-02
Rocky Ray Reeves, Buffalo State
2002-03
Sam Paolini, Cornell
(Finalist: Chanda Gunn, Northeastern)
2003-04
Chanda Gunn, Northeastern
(Finalist: Patrick Foley, New Hampshire)
2004-05
Sarah Carlson, Boston College
(Finalist: Peter Trovato, Massachusetts)
2005-06
Eric Leroux, Princeton
2006-07
Kristin Savard, Yale
(Finalists: Janelle Armitage, Connecticut;
Jaime Sifers, Vermont)
2007-08
William Bruce, Williams College
(Finalists: Janelle Armitage, Connecticut;
Missy Elumba, Northeastern)
2008-09
Missy Elumba, Northeastern
 

NU’s Missy Elumba was the fifth Hockey East player to win the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award, after she was a repeat finalist in 07-08.
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