MINNEAPOLIS — Cornell men's hockey junior defenseman Hank Kempf has been named one of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, it was announced Monday afternoon by the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation.

Along with Kempf, Penn State's Dylan Lugris, LIU's Jack Quinn, Merrimack's Raice Szott, and Syracuse's Sarah Thompson were named the other four finalists.

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.

Kempf is just the second member of the Cornell men's hockey team to be named a finalist from the award, joining Sam Paolini '03, who remains the lone representative from Cornell to win the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Alyssa Gagliardi '14 and Morgan Richardson '16, both former members of the Big Red women's hockey team, were the last two nominees for the Hockey Humanitarian Award from Cornell and were also named finalists.

This year's Hockey Humanitarian Award will be presented on Friday, April 12 during the weekend of the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation will also make a donation to the charities most important to each of the five finalists, made possible with the generous support of the award's partners and donors.
 

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While a member of the Big Red, Kempf has been active within the Cornell and Ithaca communities, aiding a number of non-for-profit organizations that help a diverse array of community members. His efforts have included supporting elementary school children, children with disabilities, and local fundraisers for charities raising funds for cancer research.

He has been involved with the Portal de Belen Foundation, which is a service trip that the Cornell men's hockey team takes to the Dominican Republic. The Portal de Belen Foundation, founded in 2001, helps the poor and needy on the Caribbean island. It has since expanded to help children of the poorest of poor in the Dominican Republic improve their quality of life through sustenance and education.

This past summer, Kempf participated and led the Cornell men's hockey service trip to Monte Plata in the Dominican Republic, where the group spent time building a community service center, distributed clothing, shoes, and food to those in need, in addition to providing computer and school supplies to local schools and participating in other acts of service. The group also handed out sports equipment to local schools and played baseball nightly with the kids of the community. While on the service trip, members of the Cornell hockey program formed lasting relationships with members of the community from the Don Juan Church and nearby schools.

Locally, Kempf has been involved with the Racker Center, which has provided strength-based support for individuals with disabilities and their families. Racker envisions a world where all people know they belong. The Cornell men's hockey team's relationship with the Racker Center and its site for early childhood services. Kempf has actively engaged with, and has been able to get to know, children and learn many of the staff members at the organization.

Kempf has also been involved with the Newfield Schools Mentor Program, where he has been active with the children at the Newfield Schools by reading to them, and has hosted large groups at Lynah Rink and on the Cornell campus, which has included providing tours and skating with the children.

Additionally, Kempf created a fundraiser called "Big Red Blocks for Healing", which raises money for Kesem, an organization that supports children affected by a cancer diagnosis to a parent.

Kesem provides year-round programs and services to support children at no cost for families while also offering a free one-week overnight summer camp for kids ages 6 to 18 who have been impacted by a parent's cancer. The camp provides a fun atmosphere and experiences to help children escape — even for a short time — the challenges of coping with their parent's cancer diagnosis.

Kempf is running the campaign with the help of senior goaltender Ryan McInchak. The entire Cornell men's hockey coaching staff also aided Kempf and McInchak in organizing the fundraiser.

The initial goal for the Big Red Blocks for Healing campaign was to raise $5,000, but the fundraiser has already reached nearly $6,500 from pledges for each shot Cornell blocks this season.

To join the campaign, you are asked to join Cornell's team and pledge a determined dollar amount (minimum of $0.10) for each shot Cornell blocks throughout the 2023-24 season. An alternative to the price-per-block, fans are also eligible to make a one-time donation.