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Alumni Stories

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Valor Alum Luke Wheeler Nominated for Prestigious Honor

Bowdoin senior Luke Wheeler has been named one of 14 nominees across all divisions of collegiate hockey for the 2025 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Wheeler is the 14th player from the NESCAC to be nominated for the prestigious honor.

The award, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary season, is presented annually by the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation 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. Wheeler is the only Division III nominee for the award this year.

A captain on the ice for the Polar Bears, Wheeler's contributions to the greater Brunswick and Bowdoin community have left an indelible impact over the last four years. He has spearheaded numerous community service efforts, including establishing the program's annual Military Appreciation Game last year, and this winter's inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer/Teddy Bear Toss Game. Additionally, he has skated, coached, and played with Unified Hockey, a Special Olympics program; one of numerous other community engagement programs in which he's participated since being at Bowdoin.

"Luke is the leader of our hockey program in every sense of the word," says Bowdoin head coach Ben Guite. "He is our top performer on the ice. He excels in the classroom. He uses his athletic platform to make a difference in the community. In my hockey career as a player and a coach, I have met a lot of great people that serve others first. I have yet to come across anyone that cares, prepares and leads to help others as diligently as Luke Wheeler."

Finalists for the 2025 Hockey Humanitarian Award will be announced in February. The 2025 recipient will be announced on Friday, April 11th during the NCAA Men's Frozen Four weekend in St. Louis, Missouri

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