Five college hockey players, who have exhibited a strong commitment to their communities, their teams and their studies, have been named finalists for the 2004 College Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen.

The group shows just how diversified college hockey has become over the years. It also shows that student-athletes who have become positive role models in their communities can play hockey at any level.

This year’s finalists are:

Dan Boeser – A senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Patrick Foley – A senior at the University of New Hampshire
Chanda Gunn – A senior at Northeastern University, who is a finalist for the Humanitarian Award for the second straight year
Derek Nisula – A senior at Babson College
Mark Persick – A junior at Canisius College

The announcement of this year’s recipient will be made on Friday, April 9th in Boston, MA. It will be part of the festivities surrounding NCAA hockey’s Division I Frozen Four.

This will mark the ninth year the Award will be presented. Boston University goalie J.P. McKersie received the initial Humanitarian Award in 1996. University of Michigan defenseman Blake Sloan was the 1997 recipient, while University of Wisconsin’s Erik Raygor was the 1998 Humanitarian. In 1999, Rochester Institute of Technology defenseman Kristine Pierce became the first woman, and first non-Division I player to receive the Award. The University of Maine’s Jim Leger won the Award in 2000, while Jason Cupp from the University of Nebraska-Omaha was the 2001 recipient. In 2002, the Humanitarian Award winner was Buffalo State’s Rocky Reeves and last year Cornell’s Sam Paolini took the honors.

Here is a closer look at each of this year’s finalists, in alphabetical order:

Dan Boeser, University of Wisconsin-Madison

At the young age of 23, Dan Boeser has already been diagnosed with and has overcome cancer, a disease that has the relentless ability to take the lives of many non-suspecting people. Not only did Boeser put up a fight more physical than any on-ice battle he was used to, but he has used his experience to help other cancer patients who are still in need of support.

A native of Savage, MN, Boeser arrived in Wisconsin in 2000 to play hockey. He had two successful seasons in which he was named a WCHA Rookie of the Week twice and was a member of the 2002 WCHA All-Star team. During the off-season after his sophomore year, as Boeser prepared for another season with his team, he was diagnosed with follicular B cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkins form of cancer that was found near his pelvis.

While in the midst of undergoing 20 radiation treatments to battle the cancer, Boeser continued to attend pre-season conditioning sessions with his teammates, mostly for support, but participating in as many drills as he could. Even though Boeser would be left weak and nauseas after the treatments, he was still convinced that he would be ready for Wisconsin’s opener on October 11, 2002 against Rensselaer.

Named an assistant captain to the team, Boeser played on that opening night as planned, but soon after was sidelined for nine games after suffering multiple fractures to his left hand. He once again made a comeback and finished the season with the Badgers. His post-season honors included the WHA-TV Jim Santelli Seventh Man Award, an award that is given to the player who fans think gives his all on the ice and best represents the trademarks of a team spirit and good sportsmanship. He also received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Now in his senior year, Boeser serves as a tri-captain for Wisconsin while also devoting time to his other passion of helping children. He coordinates hockey player visits to every patient at the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital, an initiative that began as a suggestion to Wisconsin Coach Mike Eaves.

After meeting several children during his own radiation treatment, Boeser decided that he wanted to help the children get through the very painful process. Through a series of phone calls, he contacted the Child Life Department and asked about visiting patients with other players.

His program has become very successful, as he and the other hockey players are able to bring some hope and encouragement to the children’s lives.

“Dan’s warm smile and easy going nature is obvious as he interacts and converses with each child and/or patient,” said Mary Kaminski, Child Life Director of the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital. “Through their ongoing visits, Dan has developed relationships that restore hope and motivation to hospitalized children,”

Patrick Foley, University of New Hampshire

Throughout his career at UNH, Foley has quietly gone about donating his time to various projects while balancing academic work, practice, games, and his duties as the captain of the UNH hockey team.

During his senior season, Foley has worked to establish Team 25, a fundraising foundation that will continue at UNH after his graduation. In the spring, he will begin organizing the foundation’s first annual silent auction and dinner to raise approximately $10,000. In addition, he works in partnership with New Horizons, a Portsmouth Regional Hospital program that helps children who are recovering from illness.

Last summer, Foley assisted and organized the street hockey portion of the State of New Hampshire Special Olympic Summer Games, while also helping with setup of the other events in the games.

A native of Boston, MA, Foley’s community service began as soon as he arrived in Durham. As a freshman, he became a mentor to the local youth in the Big Buddy Program. His junior year, he volunteered with the Northeast Passage Group, a nationally recognized program that athletically challenges the physically handicapped. At the same time, he volunteered as assistant coach of the Oyster River High School hockey team.

This season, Foley participated in “Write Around the Community” at Centre Middle School, where he spoke to second graders about the emphasis of writing skills in everyday life. He also contributed significantly to the first National Student Summit on Riots, a conference on sport-related rioting and responsible student celebrations hosted by the University of New Hampshire.

In addition, Foley has spent time volunteering and donating blood with the Megan DeColfmacker Memorial Blood Drive. In association with the blood drive, he has made personal appearances on behalf of the UNH hockey team, helped voice radio public service announcements, and co-hosted a live radio show before the drive. Furthermore, he spends time with the local D.A.R.E. program and visits Dover Middle School to educate children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

His numerous contributions to the New Hampshire community led Foley to receive the 2003 “Create Your Own Story at UNH” Award, presented to 10 students at the University for outstanding community involvement, leadership, and character.

After undergoing reconstructive surgery on both knees after his freshman year, Foley spent a year rehabilitating and could be seen in the stands at every game. The following year, he was voted an alternate captain and will leave UNH as only the second three-time captain in the history of the Wildcat hockey program.

“He was truly one of the best human beings with whom I have ever worked and I have not coached a player with better character,” said New York Islanders’ assistant coach Jeff Jackson, who coached Foley in the U.S. National Team Development Program in 1998-99. “Patrick never turned down an opportunity to do something in the community, or to work with those less fortunate than him.”

Chanda Gunn, Northeastern University

A native of Huntington Beach, CA, Chanda Gunn is one of the top women’s hockey players in the nation. She rewrote the Northeastern record books as a sophomore, and followed that up by finishing third in the nation in save percentage (.928) and 12th in the nation in goals against average (2.18).

Last season, she was one of the 10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top women’s collegiate hockey player in the country, while also earning Second Team All-Hockey East honors. In addition, she made the 2003 USA National Team for the World Championships in Beijing, China and the Four Nations Cup. This season she is captain of the Husky team, while continuing to put in top-notch performances starting in net.

The mere fact that she is playing hockey is remarkable, let alone excelling in the sport. The reason is that in the fourth grade she was diagnosed with epilepsy and didn’t pick up hockey until she was 14 years old. It didn’t take her long to excel, though, and by the time she was ready for college, she matriculated at the University of Wisconsin.

Despite posting a 3-3-2 record as well as a 1.91 GAA and a .933 save percentage, things didn’t work out for Gunn so she transferred to Northeastern. She saw limited action in her first year as she was adjusting to life at Northeastern, while beginning her course of studies in Athletic Training and serving as the backup goalie for Northeastern.

Then came last season and her emergence as a premier collegiate goalie.

As committed as she has been to improve as a hockey player, that is how focused she has been on helping others.

Her involvement in community activities began in 1995 while still in high school in her native California. From 1995-98, she was a volunteer coach with the local mite and squirt teams and began teaching in the “Skate/Mommy and Me” programs. She also began working at summer clinics, camps, and pre-season practices for the Cal Selects (formerly Team California) girls’ hockey program at all age levels

She then spent a year at the Taft School before matriculating at the University of Wisconsin. While at Taft, she worked in a soup kitchen.

During the 1999-2000 season, she was a head coach for the Cal Selects U12 team, and, even though she is attending school in Boston, she continued to coach the Cal Select U12s.

Her desire to help in the local community continued when she began at Northeastern. During the 2000-01 season, she began assisting the local U12 South Shore Kings in the league’s initial season and assisted the team with practices and in tournaments. She also participated in the Campus Clean Up Day and volunteered for the Boston Breakers in the initial season of the WUSA.

In 2001-2002, she organized the team to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she remains active with the CFF and the Great Strides Walk, which raises money to help cure Cystic Fibrosis. She has currently raised over $3,000 for the Foundation.

In addition, she trained with a Hospice program to become a Hospice volunteer, which she still does today, to aid those suffering from terminal illnesses, most with less than six months to live.

Last year, she was an active member of the Northeastern Student Athlete Advisory Board. She was also a student mentor for freshmen in the athletic training program, and became a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister of America Program.

This year Gunn serves as the President of the Northeastern Student Athlete Advisory Board, founded the Inner City Youth Hockey Program, works with SCOR Boston to provide underprivileged kids with hockey instruction, coaches 10 and 12 Massachusetts Spitfires girls teams, raised $1,000 for Jennifer Goulet, a Niagara hockey player, who was diagnosed with throat cancer, works with Heroes Among Us (Epilepsy Foundation), is a student mentor in the athletic training program, helped with YMCA Halloween and Christmas parties, helped with NU Student Athlete Auction, speaks at elementary schools, is a student-athlete at NCAA YES program and adopted a family during Christmas.

“As much as a catalyst Chanda is for our women’s ice hockey program, she is having the same positive impact within the community,” wrote Northeastern women’s hockey coach Joy Woog in her letter of nomination. “Her contributions to society lead far beyond hockey. She does so much for others in her free time that I can’t keep track of it all. “Through her search to be the best person she can, she unknowingly challenges me to do the same. I believe she does this for many.”

Derek Nisula, Babson College

A native of Gardner, MA, Derek Nisula has filled his four years at Babson College not only with playing hockey, but with seeking out many opportunities to help people, primarily through Habitat for Humanity, local food projects, and homeless shelters.

A four-time participant in Habitat for Humanity, Nisula went to Boston and Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 2002, El Paso, Texas in 2003, and Mexico in 2004. Since 2000, he has participated and volunteered in the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. In addition, starting in 2001, he has been a student-athlete tutor and a resident assistant at Babson.

In 2001 and 2002, Nisula volunteered for the Food Project, and, in 2002, he also helped at the Greater Boston Food Bank and Harvard Square Church Meals.

Also, in 2002, he was a volunteer at the Bernon Center, which organizes volunteer opportunities in the greater Boston area, and worked at the Ellis Memorial Summer Kids Camps. He also volunteered at the Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore from 2002-03. And, in last year, he helped the Gardner Visiting Nurses Association.

On the ice, he was named to the 2001 ECAC East All-Rookie Team, and to the 2003 ECAC East All-Academic Team. Team captain this season, Nisula has also received three of the seven major awards given to Babson College undergraduate students.

He was presented the Heather Maloy Award, which is awarded to a junior who best exemplifies those characteristics and intangible qualities that made Heather such a special student in the Babson community. The recipient must demonstrate hard work and dedication in both curricular and co-curricular life, drive, perseverance, optimism, and a feeling that no matter what the challenge, never give up.

In addition, he received the Michael J. Conlon ’96 Memorial Scholarship Award, presented to a student exhibiting leadership, academic achievement and a love for Babson, as well as the Babson College Outstanding Philanthropic Activity Award, presented to a student or organization who has gone beyond the norm and given more of themselves than any program or institution could possibly ask.

“Derek embodies all that a person, parent, coach, teacher, teammate, and friend could strive to be,” said Babson College head hockey coach Paul Donato. “The personal character he continually exhibits, the commitment to academic success, and his tireless efforts to help others sets Derek apart from all others.”

Mark Persick, Canisius College

A Yorkton, SK, native, Mark Persick has managed to maintain honors program studies for a triple major in Criminal Justice/Political Science/International Relations, to play on the hockey team, and to organize and participate in many charitable events in his first three years at Canisius College. He has effectively used his connection with the hockey team to create community service opportunities.

Persick has organized monthly visits to Buffalo’s Women and Children’s Hospital, during which time student-athletes participate in pizza parties, tree decorating, and other holiday activities with patients.

He has initiated fundraising by the hockey team for Roswell Park Cancer Institute and held sales of holiday cards designed by patients at a mall and at various hockey games.

He collected donations from the hockey team for an annual support of St. Anne’s Parish. Over $150 was collected and a group of volunteers purchased bags and boxes of food to be taken to the orphanage by the hockey team. The team will also be volunteering at the soup kitchen in the upcoming semester.

In order to increase student involvement and attendance at home athletic events, Persick created and organized Canisius’ “Dorm Wars” project.

Additionally, he organized a program to give immigrants from Vive La Casa, a layover for immigrants waiting for INS approval, free tickets and transportation to Canisius hockey games, as well as weekend use of the college’s athletic facilities.

In addition, Persick participated in last summer’s community day cleanup of the Hamlin Park area and was part of a landscape crew that built a flower garden in an empty lot.

Currently, he is working with the Alumni Associations of Canisius, Buffalo State College, and The University of Buffalo to arrange a citywide food drive, which will feature a competition between the three schools to see which school can bring in the most food. At the end of the week, the president of the losing school will have to wear the winner’s logos for a day.