The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation unveiled the list of 12 nominees for the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award on Tuesday afternoon, as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association was represented with Minnesota Duluth's Grace Sadura being named to the list. 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.

To view the full release, visit the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation here. 

Finalists for the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award will be announced in February. This year’s recipient will be announced on Friday, April 10th, during the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four weekend in Las Vegas.

Three WCHA student-athletes have won the award in its history, with Minnesota Duluth's Gabbie Hughes being named the recipient in 2023, Minnesota's Sidney Peters earning the honor in 2018, and Wisconsin's Brittany Ammerman in 2015. 

Sadura, an alternate team captain for the Bulldogs, is a double major in psychology and Chinese area studies, and currently owns a 3.763 GPA. The Bulldog forward is a two-time AHCA Division I Academic All-American, a WCHA Scholar Athlete, and a WCHA All-Academic Team member. On the ice, the junior forward has played in 101 collegiate games to date for UMD and recorded 16 goals, 13 assists, and 29 points over the span of her career. Off the ice, Sadura volunteers and serves on many committees and organizations, including being the UMD women's hockey volunteer coordinator, the UMD Athletics' DEI Council Co-President, and a Green Bandana Project Board member, while also volunteering her time at the 7 Stars Horse Ranch in Duluth. 

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com