Jim Rovold

Women's Ice Hockey Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics

Middlebury's Meg Simon Announced as Hockey Humanitarian Award Recipient

Middlebury women's ice hockey forward Meg Simon was named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award on Friday evening in Las Vegas in conjunction with the NCAA Men's Frozen Four weekend. She was recognized alongside the winners of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, the Mike Richter Award, and the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to receive the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award," Simon said. "I'm proud to represent my family, Middlebury Athletics, the NESCAC, and Division III as a whole while continuing to bring the magic of hockey to others."
 
Meg Simon, Middlebury Women's Ice Hockey & 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award Winner

HONOREE HIGHLIGHTS
  • Simon is the first Panther in school history and the second NESCAC athlete to join the exclusive club alongside 2008 honoree William Bruce from Williams. The Panther becomes the fifth athlete from the NCAA Division III level to secure the laurel and the first since Delaney Wolf from Saint Mary's (Minn.) in 2021.
  • The senior has shown continued commitment to bettering the Middlebury College and Middlebury, Vermont communities. She serves as the Co-Chair of Volunteering for the Middlebury women's ice hockey program, organizing numerous opportunities for her team to read, play and interact with local students.
  • Through her role, Simon also works with several local organizations, including the Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) and Special Olympics Vermont. She is a member of the Yellow House Community, an organization that provides safe, residential housing and meaningful vocational opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • On campus, Simon has held roles as a RADical Health Mentor and President of Middlebury College Access Mentors (MiddCAM), an organization that helps high school students navigate the complex college admissions process.
  • The Panther has served on Middlebury's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a social media coordinator/content creator for both the women's golf and women's ice hockey programs.
  • Simon helped orchestrate several initiatives during her January internship with the Middlebury Athletic Communications office, including a free athletic clinic for the community on National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
  • Simon appeared in 43 career ice hockey contests and tallied the first two assists of her career earlier this season against Vermont State University Castleton and Wesleyan.
  • The senior helped the Panthers to back-to-back NCAA Semifinals appearances on the ice and is a four-year member of the women's golf team, which claimed its initial NESCAC Championship last spring.
  • The HHA Foundation made contributions to charities designated by each award finalist and presented a special $3,000 donation to Special Olympics Vermont - Addison County during the ceremony.

"When I heard that she had won, I teared up," said Bill Mandigo, head women's ice hockey coach. "She cares and reaches out to check on people, and it's genuine. This is a great honor for an incredible young woman, and she's earned it."

"Throughout four years as a two-sport athlete at Middlebury, Meg has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service, leadership and community engagement, using ice hockey and golf as a powerful vehicle to uplift others and expand access to sport," said Tim Walko, head women's golf coach. "Her impact reaches far beyond the rink and golf course, reflecting the very essence of what the Hockey Humanitarian Award represents."

 
ABOUT THE AWARD
  • Now in its 31st year, the award is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen - a student-athlete who makes significant contributions to his or her team and the community through leadership in volunteerism.
  • Boston University's J.P. McKersie was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1996.