Two Union players nominated for Hockey Humanitarian Award

by Ryan Fay

A pair of Union hockey players have been nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, it was announced Thursday.

Johnston

Dutchmen senior winger Cole Ikkala and Dutchwomen senior defenseman Ashley Johnston are two of 18 nominees for the award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen.

Ikkala, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), has been an active community service participant. His service endeavors have included serving Thanksgiving dinner at the YMCA, purchasing Christmas gifts for a needy family, working at youth hockey camps, organizing a book drive and participating in the Team Impact project, which assists children with life threatening illness.

Ikkala, one of the Dutchmen's alternate captains, is also a candidate for the Lowes Senior CLASS award, presented annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in ten Division I sports.

For her senior project, Johnston has been working on developing an adjustable below knee prosthetic for children that will grow with the child. The project was inspired by 11-year-old Union fan Kristen Shinebarger, who battles Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.

The goal of the project is to limit the financial burden families endure when they have to continually replace prosthetics as their child grows.

The idea is presently in the design phase and a model could be ready as early as next semester. Johnston, the Dutchwomen's co-captain, has applied to four conferences in both Canada and the United States to discuss her idea.

The Hockey Humanitarian finalists will be announced in February. The award will be presented on April 11 at the Frozen Four in Philadelphia.

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