Barrie Jr. Sharks goalie Calli Hogarth signs to play NCAA Division I
BARRIE, Ontario — A current Barrie Jr. Shark recently signed on to play NCAA Division聽I hockey in the United States.
Sharks鈥� goalie Calli Hogarth will officially join the Merrimack College Warriors in North Andover, Massachusetts聽next fall.
Merrimack had plans to recruit Hogarth for the 2023-24 season, but after seeing her play this year, plans changed.
鈥淭hey came and watched me in a tournament and asked if I wanted to come early,鈥� Hogarth said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榶es please!鈥欌��
North Andover is located about 30 miles north of Boston. Having never been prior to her first tour of the school in 2019, Hogarth fell in love with the area.
She said the size of the school and the people she met inside the hockey program were a big part of why she decided to choose Merrimack.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a huge fan of big schools so I really wanted to go to a small school,鈥� Hogarth said. 鈥�(Merrimack) has a small campus and feels like a small community. I also really liked the coaches.鈥�
With the area being such a hotbed for college hockey, Hogarth says she expects the competition to fierce.
鈥淚 feel like at first it will be a big change,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a big difference playing at university than any other level I鈥檝e played at. It鈥檚 going to be a lot faster than it is now, but I鈥檒l keep working on my game until I get there.鈥�
Her mom, Val Gates, said she couldn鈥檛 be more proud of her daughter and what she has been able to accomplish.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite the journey,鈥� Val said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been laser focused and really started honing in on her hockey career in Grade 8 when she started getting phone calls from some coaches. I knew when she put her mind to it she was going to achieve it. It was a pretty proud moment when she signed the letter of intent.鈥�
She admits it will be a little tough to see her daughter leave the nest, but knows she is going to a great environment in which Hogarth will have every opportunity to thrive.
鈥淚 think she will do well,鈥� Val added. 鈥淪he will have the team and instantly have friends so I don鈥檛 have to worry about that. The coaches are amazing and I know that she will be in good hands and that they will keep her busy.鈥�
Listed at 6-foot, Hogarth said not only will she bring size, but a high compete level brought on by her strong work ethic.
Hogarth grew up in the Barrie Shark hockey program and is in her second season with the Jr. Sharks. Her first season with the club, 2020-21, was canceled due to COVID-19.
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