ELMIRA, N.Y. — Prior to the Elmira College women’s ice hockey game on Saturday, February 3, EC’s Vice President of Athletics, Pat Thompson, made a special presentation to the family of the late, great Laura Hurd ’05. In a pre-game ceremony, Thompson gifted a replica Laura Hurd National Player of the Year Award Trophy to Hurd’s mother, Jen, and brother, Steven. The trophy was sculpted by former men’s ice hockey player Michael Roche ’76.
Hurd is remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of Division III women’s ice hockey. She earned All-American accolades in each of her four seasons donning the Purple and Gold and still owns many collegiate records. To this date, she holds Division III records for career points (237) and assists (117), while also being tied for the most career goals (120). Hurd was also the star of Elmira’s Division III National Championships during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
In terms of single-season accolades, Hurd’s freshman campaign will go down as one of the best in the history of the sport, as she posted single-season Division III records in points (77) and goals (40). No other skater at this level has amassed more than 68 points in a single season. In addition to being a four-time All-American, Hurd was named the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III National Player of the Year in 2005.
Following an automobile accident that claimed her life on June 23, 2006, at the age of 24, the AHCA renamed the Division III National Player of the Year Award in honor of her transcendent play in her four seasons at Elmira. Hurd, a native of Kingston, Ontario, was posthumously placed into the ECAC Hall of Fame last April as part of the Class of 2017.
