Abby Garvin is gearing up for her final season of high school hockey. Fortunately, it won’t be her last in the game. The senior captain recently committed to St. Thomas and is looking forward to new beginnings with the women’s ice hockey team there.

Garvin has been playing hockey for 13 years and loves the game. Gavin’s dad introduced her to the game of hockey. “My dad played hockey, and he asked me and my sister if we wanted to [play as well]. Then, [as] I watched her start playing, it looked really fun and I wanted to play it,” Garvin said.

Garvin has been playing on the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Girls Varsity team since her freshman year and is a captain for the 2022-2023 season. Throughout the four years with BSM girls’ hockey, Garvin has experience leading as well as competing at a high level with her skill set. “I love hockey, and the competitiveness of the game, [I] wanted to play it at the highest level,” Garvin said.

In 2021, St. Thomas joined the WCHA as a Division 1 school, stepping up from being a Division 3 school previously. St. Thomas has a growing women’s hockey program and culture. The current head women’s coach of St. Thomas, Joel Johnson, coached the USA national team this past year, providing strong coaching and a new culture for the St. Thomas team. “I chose St. Thomas because it has the perfect mix of great academics and amazing athletics. I am also really excited to have the opportunity to work with the amazing coaching staff there and be a part of the team,” Garvin said.

Garvin says that her current BSM teammates have pushed to be a better player and have shown continual support as well. The biggest challenge Garvin will face at college is the new level of play, which is faster and more physical. Luckily, Garvin already knows a few familiar faces at St. Thomas and will be able to create new opportunities and memories there with previous teammates and friends. “My former teammate Mary Zavoral and friend Haley Maxwell [are currently playing on the St. Thomas ice hockey team],” Garvin said.

Garvin thanks her parents and appreciates friends, teammates, and others who have been supportive along the way and pushed her to be the best she can be. “They have always been very encouraging and supportive in my hockey journey,” Garvin said.