GLOUCESTER, Mass. – Wilkes University women's ice hockey forward Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON/) was nominated as a finalist for the 2025-26 Laura Hurd Award, given to the best player in Division III, as announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association this past Friday.

Bouchard becomes the first player in Wilkes program history to be named a finalist for this award.

The Hurd Award finalists are selected by the nation's Division III head coaches in a preliminary vote. The award honors the memory of former Elmira College standout Laura Hurd. A 2005 graduate of Elmira, and a four-time All-American, Hurd died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation. She was the recipient of the AHCA Player of the Year Award in 2005.

Bouchard, who was named MAC Player of the Year this season, helped the Colonels reach the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals for the first time in program history, finishing the year with team-highs in points (53) and assists (36), both of which are also single-season program records. On top of that, she finished third on the team with 17 goals.

The Sioux Lookout, Ontario native ranked second in the country in assists per game, averaging 1.29 per game through 27 games, and ranked fourth in points per game (1.89). She helped lead a Colonel offense that ranked third in the nation in total scoring offense averaging 4.68 goals per game, and fourth in win percentage (.911) and team points (331).

The winner of the Hurd Award will be announced during the Frozen Four later this week.