Wildcats adding ACHA Division I hockey for ‘24-25 campaign

Women’s college hockey is coming to the University of Arizona for the 2024-25 season.

In addition, Caitlin Hogan has been named the inaugural head coach for the Wildcats.

“I’m excited to have Caitlin be the first head coach of our women’s team,” said Arizona senior director of campus recreation Troy Vaughn. “She brings knowledge, experience, excitement and such a positive attitude to the job. She is going to be great here at UArizona.

“One of Caitlin’s main goals is not only development of student-athletes here on campus, but to cultivate and grow hockey for women and girls for the entire Tucson community. I could not think of anyone better to do just that than Coach Hogan.”

Hogan, from St. Paul, Minn., and earned a scholarship to play hockey at NCAA Division I St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. She finished as the all-time point leader in program history and obtained a double major in Marketing and Communication. She was the only female in the WCHA to receive the Turner Postgraduate Scholarship, based on grades and athletic performance. She was chosen to play for the United States from 2008-10 in multiple world championships and two F1H Hockey Women’s Four Nations Cups. She later moved to Long Beach, Calif., in 2010 where she coached for the Anaheim Lady Ducks. In 2015, she opened a training facility while completing a masters degree in Kinesiology. She was then chosen to compete for the United States Olympic Weightlifting Team, where she was a four-time medalist.

“Being named the new head coach for the first-ever University of Arizona Women’s Hockey team is a tremendous honor,” said Hogan. “There is definitely a sense of pride and responsibility in being involved in building the foundation of this new team. I can’t wait to hit the ice.”

The team will compete in ACHA Division I as a part of the Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League Conference.

Initially, games will be played at the Tucson Convention Center before moving to the Mosaic Quarter Ice Plex upon its scheduled opening in late 2025.

If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved with this new program, contact Hogan at caitlinhogan@arizona.edu or visit www.arizonawildcathockey.org/ achawd1.

San Diego native, Jr. Gulls alum Garvey off to NCAA hockey with D-III St. Norbert

The NAHL’s Bismarck Bobcats have announced that goaltender Hunter Garvey has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for St. Norbert College.

Garvey, 21, just completed his third and final season playing junior hockey in the NAHL. The native of San Diego split time during the 202223 season between Bismarck and the El Paso Rhinos.

While with the Bobcats, Garvey posted a 11-10-1 record in 22 games played with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage.

With the Rhinos, Garvey appeared in eight games, going 4-4-0 with a 2.48 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

Prior to playing in the NAHL,

Garvey played the 2019-20 season in the NAPHL for the Meijer AAA 18U team. During that season, he was named to the All-NAPHL 18U Team in the High Performance Division and also played in the 2019-20 NAPHL 18U All-Star Game.

He made his NAHL debut that season with the Jamestown Rebels.

During the 2020-21 season, Garvey played in the NAHL for the Amarillo Bulls, appearing in 15 games and posting a 4-3-5 record with a 2.43 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

In 2021-22, Garvey appeared in 41 games for the North Iowa Bulls and posted a 15-18-7 record with a 3.35 GAA and a .903 save percentage.

Back home, Garvey played youth hockey with the San Diego Jr. Gulls.