Upcoming Events
Host an Event
Golf Tournament
5k Run Walk
Get Help
10K Strong
Dec
On Thursday, December 19th, Sophie’s Squad joined The Minnesota Frost for a momentous Mental Health Awareness Night during their game against the Ottawa Charge at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. A winter storm warning may have been in place, but the weather couldn’t keep away a raucous crowd of over 4000 dedicated fans. The night was an exhibition of great hockey and the importance of raising awareness for mental health.
While the Frost and the Charge put on a show on the ice, Sophie’s Squad had the opportunity to run a booth in the Xcel Energy Center concourse. Running a booth at events always allows us to connect with fans and the community while providing crucial mental health resources.
The Frost produced videos that aired during the game, highlighting players’ relationships with their mental health, wellness exercises, and support for Sophie’s Squad. Once again, the Frost were a fantastic host, and the visiting Ottawa Charge also provided support. While both teams championed the night’s festivities, Gabbie Hughes’s homecoming was notably inspiring.
Hughes, a Lino Lakes native, is a co-founder of Sophie’s Squad, and her value to our organization and the hockey community is immeasurable. Before the game, Hughes participated in a ceremonial puck drop with Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield. Terry Hughes, Gabbie’s father and Sophie’s Squad Executive Board member, would be the one to drop the puck in memory of Sophie Wieland and in honor of the mental health awareness night.
After the game, Gabbie Hughes spoke about being proud of the night’s proceedings despite the Charge falling 5-2 to the Frost.
“I am so proud and happy to see first-hand how people buy into it. You can tell people want to know more about it. It’s hard to take this loss tonight, but I’m very proud of what our group is doing to promote mental health awareness. I’m excited to go out there and see all the outreach we did today.”
Gabbie Hughes is a champion for mental health awareness and Sophie’s Squad. In 2023, she was awarded the Hockey Humanitarian Award during her graduate senior season at Minnesota Duluth. She has carried that mission to the pros during her two years in Ottawa. We couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments and how she represents herself, our organization, and the game of hockey. You can hear her talk more about the night and Sophie’s Squad at 1:25 in the following video.
Hughes’ teammate Hayley Scamurra, another ardent supporter of Sophie’s Squad, spoke to our organization after the game. She offered similar sentiments about the game’s importance.
“Playing in last night’s game had extra meaning to me. I was honored to play for mental health awareness, especially because it’s my teammate and good friend’s foundation. I’ve always been an advocate for taking care of your mental health and being open about it. We are never alone.”
Sophie’s Squad would like to thank the Minnesota Frost for being an incredible host for Thursday’s game. The players, fans and organization played a vital role in magnifying the message of mental health awareness. We couldn’t accomplish our goals without partners and supporters like the Frost. Before the game, several players could be seen wearing our merch. You can check out a few of those photos below. (Thank you to the Frost’s social media team for providing pictures!)
As we reach the end of 2024, we also want to thank our supporters for another successful year. Events like this game are vital to our goals, and we love seeing new and old faces at our booths. If you want to visit us at an event, we already have plenty planned for next year. You can always keep up to date with where we’ll be at our upcoming events page.
—
Photos courtesy of Minnesota Frost and the PWHL.
