Kara Goulding has so many family members attending her Boston College home and road games that she gets plenty of good-natured ribbing from teammates.
“My roommate makes a joke. She’s like, ‘Kara, here’s another game with you and your deck of cards,’” Goulding said with a laugh. “Because there’s always just so many people at my games supporting me. They travel, and they don’t travel lightly either, which is nice.
“It’s my extended family too — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends,” she continued. “I’ve been lucky to say I’ve never not had someone at a game, and I’ve played in over 120. It’s been so awesome.”
That continued family and community support laid the groundwork not only for Goulding’s fine college hockey career on the ice, but also for her dedication to leadership, service and advocacy off it.
For her efforts, Goulding is one of five nominees for the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award, which will be presented April 10 in Las Vegas.
Throughout her time at Boston College, Goulding, a senior, has been a champion for mental health awareness, lending support to Morgan’s Message, which aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health among college athletes.
Goulding began working with Morgan’s Message as a freshman hockey player at Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“It raises awareness so athletes never feel alone,” Goulding said. “They know that there are clubs to go to and talk about things and be with other student-athletes who may be going through similar struggles, or even just have a community where they’re students, they’re athletes, they’re human beings. And they’re all there just to better themselves and better each other.”
Morgan’s Message was founded in memory of Duke lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers, who died by suicide in 2019.
Goulding said college hockey players are especially susceptible to mental health struggles, having to balance the sport with academics and other responsibilities during a marathon season that takes place during dark, dank winter months.
“The second you get onto campus in August, it’s go time,” she said. “Right when you get here, you’re headed to lift. You’re getting team stuff going. And I think for hockey, it’s such a long season. So if you don’t prioritize yourself, your teammates, the people around you, it can be hard, especially during a winter season. It’s cold. The sun goes down a little earlier.”
Goulding also works with Newton Special Athletes and Team IMPACT. She has also volunteered her time at Franciscan Hospital.
Goulding was also the main organizing force behind Boston College’s HEADstrong Game, where the team raised money in support of the eponymous foundation, which works to provide financial assistance and complimentary housing to those fighting cancer.
The HEADstrong Game was Dec. 5 at home against Northeastern, but the preparation work began well in advance. Thankfully, as soon as Goulding and HEADstrong approached the BC athletic administration about the event, they received immediate support.
“They knew that I wasn’t going to back down until we had this awareness event,” Goulding said. “And it turned out just amazing.”
Despite a 3-1 BC loss, the game raised more than $4,000 for HEADstrong.
While her time on the ice at BC has come to an end, Goulding said she looks forward to graduating later this spring with a degree in applied psychology and human development, with a concentration in special education.
“It’s so rewarding, sad, joyful, everything you can think of,” Goulding said about the end of her time at BC. “That’s kind of what I’m feeling.”
Like the vast majority of college graduates, Goulding is unsure exactly what the future holds, but she wants it to include continuous involvement in the sport she loves.
“I could not imagine hockey not being in my life,” she said. “So I’m definitely going to stay involved with hockey for sure. Down the road, I’d love to coach. But I just know for certain that hockey is never not going to be in my life.”