In the world of college athletics, many talented players come and go, especially in the rich tradition of University of Wisconsin hockey. However, it is only a few times in a generation that a player exudes the same excellence on the ice that he does in his commitment to the community. Captain Andrew Joudrey has established himself as one of these special individuals.
Joudrey, a senior forward from Nova Scotia, Canada, has raised his game to another level in his final season with the Badgers. He leads the team in points and assists with 19 and 15, respectively, and ranks among the leaders of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in both of these categories.
After a very successful two-year stint with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Joudrey came to Madison for his freshman year with the Badgers in 2003 and quickly became an offensive threat, registering seven goals and 15 assists to tie him for fourth on the team in scoring. He followed with a strong sophomore campaign, and last year recorded three game-winning goals, including a critical one against Minnesota in the WCHA Final Five en route to an NCAA title. Joudrey attributes this steady success to his strong focus.
""Individually, you just focus on each week and each practice and keep building,"" Joudrey said. ""I think I've grown a lot this year both on and off the ice and hopefully I can just keep going with it in the right direction towards the end of the year.""
Throughout Joudrey's three-plus years at Madison, he has shown great commitment to the community. He has made regular visits to the UW Children's Hospital and Boys and Girls Club, as well as his work as a coach for youth hockey teams in the Madison area. Joudrey has also participated in a variety of community service events including a golf outing called ""Fore a Cure"", which this year raised more than $50,000 for the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
Joudrey was finally recognized for his outstanding effort when he was named one of six finalists for this year's Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award is given out annually to college hockey's finest citizen and seeks to recognize college hockey players, D-I or D-III, male or female, who have demonstrated excellence in giving back to their community. Joudrey becomes just the third Badger named as a finalist since the award began in 1996. Joudrey is very proud of what the nomination means not only to him, but to hockey players in Wisconsin.
""That's a great honor,"" Joudrey said. ""There were probably five or six other guys on the team that could all be there because we do a lot of stuff together. But it's great, it shows not only for me but for college hockey players in Wisconsin, specifically that we're helping out. We're not just hanging out in our own houses all the time, we're doing something and it shows you can benefit the community off the ice as well as on the ice.""
Joudrey's leadership off the ice has also presented itself as an asset to the team in terms of his responsibilities as senior captain. Assistant coach Mark Osiecki described the unique way in which Joudrey presents himself.
""Andrew's a quiet leader,"" he said. ""He's not going to be real rah-rah although when the time comes he's going to step it up in the locker room and say what needs to be said. He's a quiet leader but a quality person and a lot of our younger guys will hopefully follow along in his example. His nomination for the award really demonstrates his great qualities on and off the ice.""
The winner of this year's Hockey Humanitarian Award will be announced in a ceremony held at the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis, Miss. Until then, Andrew Joudrey will be sure to give 100 percent in trying to lead the Badgers to the NCAA tournament.
