MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior Dylan Lugris (Buffalo, N.Y.) was named one of five finalists for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award, as announced by the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation on Monday afternoon.
Lugris becomes the second Nittany Lion to be named a finalist for this prestigious award joining former captain David Goodwin '17 who was a finalist back in 2017.
The Buffalo, New York native joins Cornell's Hank Kempf, LIU's Jack Quinn, Merrimack women's player Raice Szott and Syracus women's Sarah Thompson as 2024 finalists.
"I'm humbled and honored to be named one of the finalists for this prestigious award," stated Lugris. "This recognition means a lot to my family and I and I'd like to give a special thank you to my family, teammates, coaches, and the entire Penn State community for supporting this great cause."
The award, which is celebrating its 29th season, 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.
Lugris wasted little time getting involved in the local State College community once arriving in Hockey Valley in January 2021. Almost instantly Dylan formed a bond with the local sled hockey organization, the State College Coyotes. Dylan started attending their weekly practices eventually having teammates join him as he learned more and more about the sport of sled hockey and the Coyotes organization.
In an effort to make a difference for a struggling organization, that only practiced once a week and did not compete in actual games, Dylan came up with the idea of the Penn State Sled Hockey Classic last January. His mission is to grow the game of hockey while bringing awareness and knowledge to the sport of sled hockey and to provide the Coyotes the means necessary for organizational growth.
The idea was a charity sled hockey scrimmage between the Coyotes and the Penn State men's hockey team at Pegula Ice Arena in front of the passionate Penn State fanbase. The event is spearheaded by Dylan with the help of his Penn State teammates from the planning and organization through the execution of the event itself, every aspect of the event is handled by a member of the Penn State men's ice hockey team.
Since the initial Penn State Sled Hockey Classic in February 2023 to now the Coyotes have more than doubled in roster size and are proud members of the Northeast Sled Hockey League competing in multiple games per month thanks in large part to the near $50,000 Dylan and his Penn State teammates have raised for the Coyotes organization over the past year. Dylan and his teammates are excited to continue the growth of the event in years to come as it is now a winter staple within the Hockey Valley community.
"I love this award and am so happy for Dylan for what he has done, it speaks volumes to who he is as a person and the culture of hockey," commented head coach Guy Gadowsky. "We are extremely proud of the impact Dylan has had not only on the State College Coyotes, but on his teammates and the Hockey Valley community as a whole."
The 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award will be presented on Friday, April 12th during the NCAA Men's Frozen Four weekend in St. Paul, Minn.
Full Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation Release
For more information on the 2023-24 season presented by the Penn State Bookstore: Official Bookstore of Penn State Athletics, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
