Men's Hockey 1/19/2016 4:16:00 PM Ashley Chase

Friedmann Nominated for Hockey Humanitarian Award

Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Robert Morris University men's hockey senior David Friedmann is among eighteen nominees for the 2016 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes 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. The nominees span both all NCAA divisions and include both men's and women's athletes.

Friedmann, a forward from Toronto, is a model example of a complete student-athlete, not only balancing his hockey career with academics, but taking an active role in campus leadership, his religion and culture, and brightening the life of a young man that battled brain tumors.

Friedmann works with a Pittsburgh-based organization named CCChampions, a nonprofit that helps kids with cancer and other ailments through year-long friendships with inspirational role models in Pittsburgh. It only made sense for a 13-year old boy who loves hockey to find a special relationship with Friedmann.

Jake plays hockey in Pittsburgh. The two spend time together every month and enjoy a variety of activities from talking to mini-golfing to hitting the ice together. Sharing a unique bond as hockey players and friends brings a new energy to Jake's life as he battles the effects from his tumors. Friedmann takes pride in the relationship he shares with Jake and makes it a priority to spend time with him, despite his busy hockey schedule and heavy academic load.

"David is a very mature young man with a tremendous attitude towards others," says head coach Derek Schooley.

As a teammate, Friedmann is dedicated to making everyone around him better. Friedmann works hard to ensure his fellow student-athletes have the best quality of life and fellowship as a member of the board for the RMU Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

"David has made it his priority to help others," says Schooley. "He has been very involved with our community service projects and the SAAC program at Robert Morris."

Academics are a big focus for Friedmann, a marketing major minoring in legal studies. Friedmann's efforts have earned him a 3.74 GPA and Atlantic Hockey Conference All-Academic team honors for each of the last three seasons. In the summer of 2015, Friedmann traveled to Ramat Gan in Israel to intern at Halman Aldubi Investment House. Halman Aldubi is a leader in financial services that provides a broad range of investment strategies and solutions.

"He has made it known that school is a very high priority in his life," according to Friedmann's head coach.

Friedmann's leadership in the community comes in many forms. A proud member of the Jewish faith, Freidmann is the vice president of RMU's Hillel, which is affiliated with the national Hillel organization, the largest Jewish student organization in the world.

Hillel builds connections and encourages students to explore, experience and create vibrant Jewish lives. Hillel encourages students of all backgrounds to form deep, personal connections to Jewish life and provides opportunities for students to have meaningful Jewish experiences.

"I have received many compliments from others outside of Robert Morris on his attitude of giving," Schooley says. "RMU is a better place with David here."

The 2016 finalists will be announced in February, with the recipient named on Friday, April 8 at the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla.

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Players Mentioned

#9 David Friedmann: F; 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.

Players Mentioned

#9 David Friedmann
: 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.
: F

Players Mentioned

#9 David Friedmann

Players Mentioned

#9 David Friedmann