Boston College's Kara Goulding, Minnesota-Duluth's Grace Sadura, and Middlebury College's Meg Simon were named three of the five finalists or the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award.
Five NCAA hockey players, including three women's hockey players, were named finalists for the 31st annual Hockey Humanitarian Award, "presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen."
According to the Award website, the Hockey Humanitarian Award "celebrates 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."
The NCAA women's hockey players nominated include Boston College senior Kara Goulding, Minnesota-Duluth junior Grace Sadura, and Middlebury College senior Meg Simon.
Goulding has been an advocate for Morgan's Message, a mental health awareness effort, involved with Newton Special Athletes and Team IMPACT, and has volunteered at Franciscan Hospital. While at Boston College, Goulding also organized the Women’s Hockey HEADstrong Game, where the team raised over $4,000 in support of the HEADstrong Foundation, with proceeds benefitting Nick’s House, a home away from home for families traveling for cancer treatment.
Sadura volunteers at 7 Stars Horse Ranch, an organization that aims to provide healing to youth, veterans, first responders, and their families. Sadura has also helped run practices for Duluth Special Wild, an organization for hockey players with special needs, and coaches other Duluth youth teams. She was also involved in the UMD DEI Council’s Clothing Drive.
The final women's hockey finalist is Meg Simon, who is the co-chair of volunteering for the Middlebury women’s ice hockey program and has done work with the Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association and Special Olympics Vermont. Simon is also a member of the Yellow House Community, providing safe, residential housing for adults with disabilities. On the Middlebury campus, Simon has held roles as the President of Middlebury College Access Mentors (MiddCAM) and a RADical Health Mentor.
Princeton's Jayden Sison and Connecticut's Ryan Tattle were the two men's hockey nominees. The 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award winner will be announced April 10.