The Benilde- St. Margaret’s girls hockey team announced their two brand new captains, Annie Juckniess and Abby Garvin. The team wrapped up their 2021-2022 season with a banquet at Edina country club where co-head coaches, Kevin Gray and Kelly Pannek surprised the team by releasing the captains for the next season. 

The announcement came as a slight shock to the team as the past captains were announced during the preseason meetings in August to the upperclassmen. “I was expecting it actually because our coach Kelly Pannek called us the night before and warned us that we are going to be announced as captains at the banquet. I was really surprised when she called me because I didn’t know that I was going to be. I knew the team would be surprised though,” Juckiness said. 

Juckniess and Garvin grew up playing hockey together at Edina before they both transferred to BSM for highschool. They were both key offensive contributors last season, Abby Garvin had 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points and Annie had 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points. This will be the girls 4th season playing varsity hockey together for BSM. “It’s very special to be a captain with Abby, because it’s not only like we’ve been on a team together but we have a really strong friendship too” So I can be a captain with one of my best friends,” Juckiness said. 

The Red Knights are losing eight seniors, five of which are going on to play college hockey. Former captains Emma Peschel, Emma Hoen and Sophie Melsness are going to Ohio State, Lindenwood and Merrimack respectively. Six out of ten of BSM’s top point scorers were seniors. The team will be relatively young next season, with only two returning varsity players. “There will be a lot of new people next year. I feel like connections and like getting to know each other is going to be super important. I just want to make sure that everyone feels super welcomed and just know they have a big role on the team,” Garvin said.