MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- University of North Dakota junior forward Brendan Budy has been named a national candidate for the 2022 Hockey Humanitarian Award, as announced by the foundation on Tuesday. He is one of 11 nominees across all of collegiate hockey for the award. 

Budy becomes only the second player in program history to be among the nominees for the award, joining Mark MacMillan in 2014 and 2015. The award, which is celebrating its 27th 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.

"It's a very big honor and something that means a lot to me," said Budy. "Diabetes is something that I and many others live with. To be able to raise money and show others who have it or any other life-altering disease that you can still do whatever you put your mind to was something that was important for me."

The Langley, B.C., native opened up publicly in December 2021 about his Type-I Diabetes diagnosis, starting a campaign to raise money for Diabetes Canada Foundation during the month. Overall, Budy personally donated over $2,300 to the foundation, not including individual donations by those inspired by him. 

Currently, Budy is serving as an advocate to those with Type-1 Diabetes in the Grand Forks area and beyond, helping charter conversations with youth and parents of those with the disease on being a student-athlete at one of the nation's top programs. He also serves as a pen-pal for local elementary students in Grand Forks to share monthly letters. 

Part of a culture of service at North Dakota, Budy and his teammates have led the nation in community service hours in each of the last two years through the Helper Helper app for Division I programs, taking part in multiple service projects.

Budy carries a 3.76 GPA while majoring in business economics, is a NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and was a member of the AHCA All-America Scholar Team last season. 

Finalists for the 2022 Hockey Humanitarian Award will be announced in February. The 2022 recipient will be honored on Friday, April 8th during the NCAA Men's Frozen Four weekend in Boston, Massachusetts.