Jan. 28—BEMIDJI — Friday’s Bemidji State women’s hockey game against Minnesota State will be about more than just hockey.
The Beavers partnered with Sophie’s Squad, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization aimed to support student-athlete mental health by raising awareness, removing stigma and encouraging open conversations. The partnership between BSU and Sophie’s Squad was spearheaded by the organization and assistant coach Sarah Bobrowski-Laird.
At 6:02 p.m. on Friday at the Sanford Center, Bemidji State will host its first Sophie’s Squad game.
“I have to give all the credit to Sophie’s Squad,” Bobrowski-Laird said. “The state of Minnesota does such a good job of doing Sophie’s Squad at high school games, college games. We were part of a Sophie’s Squad game at Minnesota Duluth — I think it was two years ago. Some of the members in their organization reached out to us early in the season to get this on the calendar. They’ve been doing it around the WCHA, so we get to host one.”
Organizers from Sophie’s Squad will be in attendance when the Beavers welcome the Mavericks to Bemidji, doing in-game promotions and sharing their message with players, coaches and fans in attendance.
One of the promotions will be a ticket giveaway for a Minnesota Wild game on March 19 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The winner of the traditional Chuck-a-Puck promotion during the second intermission will receive the tickets from Sophie’s Squad.
“It’s really about bringing awareness around mental health,” Bobrowski-Laird said. “Their main mission is ending the stigma in asking for help with mental health. That’s obviously something we’re passionate about as coaches here at Bemidji State. Being a part of that day and part of that awareness for the information is a big honor.”
Bobrowski-Laird has fond memories of when the Beavers took part in a Sophie’s Squad game on the road two years ago in Duluth.
“It was really special,” she said. “All of our players get goodie bags and T-shirts. One of my favorite things about it is that all of our players get information cards. Mental-health resources are literally going into the hands of the players and coaches, which is awesome. Watching the players warm up in the T-shirts was awesome. After the game, everybody gathers to take a picture.
“At the end of the day, I think it’s a good reminder that it’s just a game. What’s really important is each other, and taking care of each other, too.”
Sophie’s Squad is an organization born out of tragedy.
On July 12, 2021, 14-year-old Sartell native Sophie Wieland committed suicide. She was a violinist, an athlete and an involved student. There were no signs she was struggling with mental health, as her parents put it in an
interview with Fox 9.
Bobrowski-Laird was inspired by the story that started the organization.
“She didn’t ever share that there were problems going on,” she said. “Opening these conversations and ending that stigma around asking for help is important, because you never know who’s struggling and they might not show those signs.”
Since the Wielends lost their youngest of three kids, the organization they started has brought mental health to the forefront of hundreds of youth and collegiate sporting events and teams. Gabbie Hughes, a former Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey player who plays for the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL, is one of many high-profile athletes who took a hands-on approach to sharing the message, serving as a Sophie’s Squad ambassador.
“What a great opportunity,” BSU head coach Amber Fryklund said. “With Gabbie Hughes and her work with that and her advocacy around that, Coach Bobrowski has taken that on and done a great job planning all of that. Our players are really excited. I think it’s just a great opportunity to bring awareness to mental health and end that stigma around those conversations.”
Fryklund added that she’s thankful for all the work Bobrowski-Laird has put into planning, paving the way for the Beavers to spread a message bigger than sports.
“I just think it’s really important for them, as college hockey players and us as coaches, to use this platform we have and use these opportunities to talk about important things,” Fryklund said.
Bemidji State freshman Kasey Senden was also named an ambassador of the organization this year.
“I think it goes back to our coaching philosophy at BSU,” Bobrowski-Laird said. “We are very relationship-based. We want relationships with our players, the people we bring in, the community members. Obviously, I’m not a mental health professional, but a big thing is referring our players and our student-athletes to the right resources here on campus and in Bemidji.”
And Fryklund leads by example.
“The conversations she has with the team and keeping our doors open, it’s important for players to feel comfortable talking to us,” Bobrowski-Laird added. “Britt (Lauritsen), our (athletic director), with the resources she provides for us, it’s top-down here at Bemidji State.”
Bobrowski-Laird sees firsthand how being a collegiate student-athlete comes with interpersonal challenges, especially for new players coming into the program for their freshman seasons.
“It’s so important because it’s such a big adjustment coming in,” Bobrowski-Laird said of prioritizing mental health. “Not just for athletes, but for everyone, your list of demands goes higher. You’re on your own a lot of the time, too. Being a Division-I athlete is a lot to take on, so we have to bring awareness to that and provide those supports.”
More information on Sophie’s Squad and how to get involved can be found at
.
