Sophie’s Squad and UMD Partner for Mental Health

Sophie’s Squad traveled north on Saturday, January 11th, to host its annual Hockey Hits Back doubleheader with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This tradition highlights the strong, longstanding partnership between the organization and the university. The 8th-ranked women’s team took on Wisconsin, the #1 team in the country, while the men’s team played a set against Lindenwood University, doing their part to raise awareness of mental health issues.

The partnership with Duluth is particularly important to Sophie’s Squad, given the deep roots the organization shares with the university. Gabbie Hughes, co-founder and lead ambassador of Sophie’s Squad, played her college hockey at Duluth and even won the Hockey Humanitarian Award for her work in promoting mental health advocacy with the organization during her final season with the Bulldogs in 2023.

While Hughes, now a member of the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge, is no longer in Duluth, she still maintains tight ties with the university. The team and Sophie’s Squad still honor her legacy with the Bulldogs by continuing to partner every year. Gabbie spoke about the importance of the organization and Duluth’s bond in a video ahead of the event.

“Since day one, Bulldog country has been there every step of the way,” Hughes said. “Hosting events, donations, helping us spread our message. To know that there are still games going on even though I’m not there…I just wanted to thank you guys (UMD fans) for everything that you do for our organization.”

Mental Health Advocacy Continues at UMD

The athletes at the University of Minnesota Duluth have continued to advocate for awareness of mental health issues in athletics. Current Bulldog forward MK O’Brien spoke about the program’s commitment to mental health before the game.

“Sophie’s Squad is a huge part of our program here, and we all advocate for mental health here. It’s really important that we have these conversations and show up for your friends and family. Everyone struggles with mental health to some extent, and mental health is physical health.”

Before the Bulldogs’ game against Wisconsin, the two teams showed unity in support of mental health awareness with a pregame puck drop. Sophie’s Squad President and Gabbie Hughes’ father, Terry Hughes, dropped the puck. Gestures like the pregame puck drop are vital to showing that we’re all in this together in the fight to end the stigma around being open with your health in athletics and everyday life.

Sophie’s Squad ran booths at the game, allowing the organization to meet with the Duluth community face-to-face. The booths also enable the distribution of educational materials on mental health awareness. Fans also had the opportunity to purchase Sophie’s Squad merchandise.

Expanding the Impact Beyond Hockey

In addition to the Hockey Hits Back game, Sophie’s Squad extended its mental health advocacy throughout the Duluth community by supporting multiple athletic events taking place the same weekend. The organization also ran events connected to the UMD women’s basketball game, the St. Scholastica matchup, and the Icebreakers Tournament, which directly support over 1,000 young athletes, ensuring athletes across sports had access to mental health resources and support.

By showing up at several venues in one weekend, Sophie’s Squad reinforced its mission to normalize mental health conversations for athletes at every level. Whether on the ice or the court, the message remained the same: athletes are not alone, and their mental health matters just as much as their physical performance. This expanded presence allowed Sophie’s Squad to reach a broader audience of athletes, families, and fans while continuing to build meaningful connections throughout the region.

Sophie’s Squad is committed to being a visible and active force in the community. Events like these are vital to that goal. Sophie’s Squad is excited to host events across Minnesota and the surrounding areas. If you’re interested in seeing us soon, you can view our full slate of upcoming events here. We’re excited to see you out and about!