January 12, 2005
Hockey Humanitarian Award Finalists Announced

Five student athletes, including three Division I men's players, have been selected as finalists for the 2005 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

The finalists, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Sarah Carlson; Boston College
Gillian Gallagher; Quinnipiac University
John Ostapyk; Dartmouth College
Mark Persick; Canisius College
Peter Trovato; University of Massachusetts

Two of this year's finalists were nominees in 2004. Persick, who last year organized a sponsorship of a six-year-old girl in Somalia, while Trovato founded the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund which honors the sacrifices of the state's soldiers in the war on terrorism.

The others are first-time finalists. Carlson traveled to Mexico during the summer of 2004 and volunteered building a church and running a vacation bible school. Gallagher often spends Saturdays building homes for Habitat for Humanity and is also involved with Support a Soldier in Iraq. Ostapyk spends time at the Carter Community Building in Lebanon, N.H., where he has become a role model to underprivileged kids.

The tenth recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award will be selected from the group of finalists and named in a ceremony held in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Friday, April 8 in Columbus, Ohio, during the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four.