WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross junior forward Lulu Rourke has been named the 2025-2026 recipient of the Sarah Devens Award, jointly announced by the Hockey East Association and ECAC Hockey. 

Presented annually to a player who demonstrates leadership and commitment both on and off the ice, the Devens Award is given as a joint honor between ECAC Hockey and Hockey East and aids a deserving student-athlete with a post-graduate scholarship of $15,000. The award is named in honor of former Dartmouth Big Green ice hockey player Sarah Devens, who died in 1995 prior to her senior year. 

"I am truly honored to be recognized as the recipient of this year's Sarah Devens Award," Rourke said. "I am inspired by the life that Sarah Devens led and all of her accomplishments as a multi-sport student-athlete, and I am deeply grateful to be recognized in connection with her legacy. This award motivates me to continue pushing myself both on and off the ice and to live my life in a way that positively influences those around me. I am especially grateful to Holy Cross, the coaching staff, all of my teammates and my incredible family for helping shape me into someone who strives to inspire others and represent the values that this award stands for.  Lastly, I would like to thank the Devens family for providing this gift every year. It is going to impact my postgraduate life so much, as I am sure it has for so many in the past."

Rourke carries 3.89 cumulative grade point average with a double major in Neuroscience and Chinese. She is also a visible presence throughout the Worcester community, working with the Junior Crusaders under-eight girls' hockey team, where she helps mentor and inspire young athletes. Additionally, Rourke tutors Chinese-speaking citizens at the Worcester Senior Center, helping them improve their English pronunciation and sharing valuable cultural insights. 

On the ice, Rourke ranked seventh on the team in scoring this season with 16 points on seven goals and nine assists. She also tied for second on the squad with three power play goals, in addition to blocking 18 shots. Over the course of her collegiate career, Rourke now has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points. Her 15 career goals are the ninth-most by any Crusader in the Hockey East era.

Rourke helped lead Holy Cross to the Hockey East semifinals for the first time in program history this year, with the Crusaders posting an overall record of 19-13-3 and a 10-11-3 mark in Hockey East play. Holy Cross broke the school records for the most Hockey East victories (10) and most Hockey East points (37) in a single season, while its 19 overall wins are tied for the fifth-most in program history.

Sarah Devens Award Recipients
1997 – Kathryn Waldo (F), Northeastern
1998 – Sarah Hood (F), Dartmouth
1999 – Jamie Totten (D), Northeastern
2000 – Carrie Jokiel (F), New Hampshire
2001 – Christina Sorbara (F), Brown
2002 – Dianna Bell (F), Cornell
2003 – Rachel Barrie (G), St. Lawrence
2004 – Lindsay Charlebois (F), St. Lawrence
2005 – Nicole Corriero (F), Harvard
2006 – Karen Thatcher (F), Providence
2007 – Lindsay Williams (F), Clarkson
2008 – Lizzie Keady (F), Princeton
2009 – Marianna Locke (F), St. Lawrence
2010 – Laura Gersten (F), Rensselaer
2011 – Jackee Snikeris (G), Yale
2012 – Aleca Hughes (F), Yale
2013 – Alyssa Zupon (F), Yale
2014 – Vanessa Gagnon (F), Clarkson
2015 – Chelsea Laden (G), Quinnipiac
2016 – Alison Rolandelli (D), Brown
2017 – Paula Voorheis (G), Cornell
2018 – Taylor Willard (D), Vermont
2019 – Kenzie Lancaster (F), Quinnipiac
2020 – Sammy Davis (F), Boston University
2021 – Grace Markey (F), Quinnipiac
2022 – Gianna Meloni (G), Yale
2023 – Carly Beniek (F), Holy Cross and Kate Reilly (D), Quinnipiac
2024 – Elle Hartje (F), Yale
2025 – Sarah Thompson (F), St. Lawrence
2026 – Lulu Rourke (F), Holy Cross

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