Andrew Fasano
Staff Writer
Now 2,518 miles away and living the life, freshman Anna Gallagher is pursuing her love for ice hockey.
September 26th marked the last day of Mira Costa for Gallagher, as she accepted a spot on a nationally ranked team in the North American Hockey Academy. Gallagher says she is excited to start this new chapter in her life, but it comes with great responsibility.
“Since I was given this opportunity, I instantly knew I wanted to go,” Gallagher said. “Playing for this prestigious academy has always been a dream of mine, but it’s a little nerve wracking considering it is my 1st time going away from parents, which will force me to learn responsibility.”
Prior to Gallagher joining the North American Hockey Academy (NAHA), she played on the Junior Kings under 16 team as one of the youngest on the team. Gallagher says that in order to be scouted for NAHA, she and her team would travel to the east coast to play in tournaments that NAHA would send scouts to in order to find potential candidates.
“I’ve really been privileged enough in my past to play for such great teams in order to get the recruiting I have always hoped for,” Gallagher said. “Now since I’ve joined NAHA, it has been another great experience, something I hope to continue with.”
Gallagher’s team is currently in 1st in the Junior women’s Hockey League (JWHL), where they travel throughout the east coast and Eastern Canada to play its games. Gallagher, a forward for the team, has currently played in 34 of the past 40 games in their league and has seven goals (fifth best) and 12 assists (third best).
“It’s really been quite an adjustment playing in this new environment, considering that the competition with ice hockey is much greater on the east coast,” Gallagher said. “Nonetheless, it’s been a very successful season for both myself and the team which has made this experience so much better.”
Gallagher will attend school and live with the rest of the team in dormitories on-site next to the team’s home stadium before returning back to California in March. A normal day consists of a wake up call at 8, training off the ice from 9-10, skills training from 10:40-12 on the ice, and school starting at 1 and ending at 5:45.
“I take the same courses as I would at a normal school, like Costa,” Gallagher said. “With this system of school and hockey, it gives us a chance to improve our time management.”
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