Ex-Ice Dog named Humanitarian finalist

Former Fairbanks Ice Dogs goaltender Jerad Kaufmann has been named one of 10 finalists for the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is awarded annually to the college hockey player that most personifies true community spirit through the selfless commitment of leadership, effort and time.  

Kaufmann, a senior at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, always gave freely of his time while he wasn’t tending the Mavericks net. But, when a friend died overseas while serving in Iraq, Kaufmann was both saddened and inspired.

He organized, from start to finish, two successive Military Appreciation Nights, which collectively raised nearly $25,000 for various military related charities.

“It’s made me more appreciative of what I have,” said Kaufmann, who played for the Ice Dogs from 2003-05. “Life is bigger than the game.”

The recipient will be announced on Friday, April 10 in an evening ceremony at the Verizon Center in Washington DC, site of this year’s Frozen Four.  The award will be presented in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Award and the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.