by Jashvina Shah
When Gwen Eichfeld was just four years old, she went to a learn-to-skate event at the Washington Capital’s practice facility. On their way, Eichfeld and her dad stopped to watch the team practice.
“I can do that,” Eichfeld told her dad.
She did do that, playing local hockey and skating for the Northern Virginia Ice Dogs, a Tier 2 girls program that played in tournaments and sometimes against Tier 1 teams.
With just a few girls programs in Virginia, Eichfeld was unable to play with and against the skill she was seeking. So she aimed for Selects and Pens Elite.
“After seeing so many strong players at tryouts for Legacy Selects, I wanted to play more with and against the best girls from Canada and the US,” Eichfeld said.
“For me, the toughest challenge was breaking into elite Tier 1 hockey from a starting point in Virginia. I didn’t make the Legacy Selects or Pens Elite team on my first try. I set a goal to make the teams the next year and worked even harder. I went to early morning power skating and skills sessions before school every week.”
Despite lack of competitive hockey programs in the area, the Eichfelds didn’t consider moving until Gwen and her brother had both graduated to high school. But the extra year spent in skill sessions worked, and Eichfled made Selects and Pens. From there, she joined Shattuck St. Mary’s.
“The hockey part of my life and the school part of my life were completely separate for eight years. While it all seemed normal then, it’s been a lot of fun to bring both parts of my life together at Shattuck,” Eichfeld said. “Also, I now have about 20 more hours a week to rest, work out and study instead of sitting in a car.”
For the defender, skating, vision and athleticism are her best skills. The ’02 wants to work on her creativity and scoring touch.
“I don’t watch much pro hockey,” Eichfeld said. “I appreciate watching and learning from good plays at any level.”
In 2021, Eichfeld will move back east and lace up for Colgate. Her recruiting process began at 13, but the family froze the decision until they moved to Connecticut and she began high school. On the target list were Ivy League schools, liberal arts colleges and large state schools. She started talking with coaches that summer and eventually decided on Colgate
“I really enjoyed my time at their camp last summer and the interactions with all the coaches and players during my unofficial visit and over the phone,” Eichfeld said. “I felt the energy, excitement and motivation from everyone. All the players seemed really committed and happy.
“The coaches didn’t just talk at me, they asked me a lot of questions and made it clear that they had seen me play and had specific ideas on how to help me develop now and in the future. Beyond the hockey, I liked the smaller school, compact campus and overall commitment to athletics.”
While Eichfeld has a few years before she joins this-year Frozen Four participant Colgate, she is trying to find how hockey fits into a higher purpose.
“Some of the coaches I met while recruiting this fall were very clear about their personal sense of purpose: Why they do what they do and why they love it. I know why I love hockey, but now I think it is important to figure out how hockey fits into a bigger purpose for me,” Eichfeld said.
“For me now it’s more than just a hobby, it’s becoming a part of me and it’s something I can learn from and really grow from and become a better person.”