FROM FLORIDA TO FREDERICTON

At Champions Hockey, our goal is to surround athletes with coaches who have both high level playing experience and a passion for teaching the game the right way. One of the people leading that effort is Head of Player Development, Gabe Guertler. Many families around Fredericton have already had the chance to work with Gabe on the ice, but his path through the game is one that spans multiple leagues, countries, and levels of competition.

Growing Up in Hockey… in Florida

Gabe was born and raised in Plantation, Florida, a place not always associated with hockey. In fact, he could see the Florida Panthers’ arena from his house growing up, which made the NHL feel a little closer to home.

Hockey was introduced early thanks to his family. Gabe’s father grew up playing hockey in Minnesota, one of the sport’s true hotbeds, before moving to Florida in his late twenties. When Gabe was young, his dad introduced him to the game, and it quickly became the sport that stood above all others.

Roller Hockey Roots

Long before Gabe stepped onto an ice rink, he was already playing hockey.

He started in roller hockey at just three years old, and those early years helped build the foundation of his skating, puck handling, and creativity with the puck. By the time he began playing ice hockey at age five, the routine was already set: ice hockey during the winter and roller hockey during the summer.

Roller hockey in Florida was extremely competitive, with tournaments taking place almost every weekend throughout the summer. The fast pace and constant puck touches helped shape the skill set that Gabe would later carry into elite levels of ice hockey.

It is also part of the reason he is excited to see roller hockey growing in Fredericton, as the game provides another excellent environment for players to develop skills, compete, and simply enjoy being around the game.

More Than Just Hockey

While hockey was always Gabe’s main focus, he was involved in many sports growing up. Like a lot of young athletes, he tried almost everything for at least a season.

One sport that stood out alongside hockey was wrestling. Gabe began wrestling at six years old and continued competing until tenth grade, when he left home to pursue hockey opportunities. During that time he had considerable success, winning multiple state championships, an accomplishment that speaks to the competitiveness and work ethic he brought to every sport he played.

A Unique Hockey Path

Gabe’s hockey journey took him through a number of elite development environments across North America.

At 15 years old, he moved away from home to play for Team Illinois, a major step that allowed him to compete against some of the top young players in the United States.

From there, he was drafted second overall by the Fargo Force of the USHL, where he played two seasons against many of the best junior players in the country.

Following his time in the USHL, Gabe attended the University of Minnesota, one of the most historic programs in NCAA hockey. After one season there, he made the decision to continue his development in the Ontario Hockey League, joining the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the team that had drafted him several years earlier.

After two seasons in the OHL, Gabe continued his hockey career in Atlantic Canada, playing three seasons at the University of Prince Edward Island before moving on to four years of professional hockey.

Each stop along the way provided a different perspective on the game, from junior hockey to NCAA competition, major junior, U SPORTS, and professional play.

Finding a Home in Fredericton

Gabe’s journey eventually brought him to New Brunswick for a reason that had nothing to do with hockey.

While living in PEI, he met his now fiancee. When she decided to attend UNB to study law, Gabe made the move to Fredericton after finishing his playing career. What started as a move for personal reasons quickly turned into an opportunity to stay involved in the game he has spent his life around.

Today, Gabe works with athletes throughout the Champions Hockey programs, helping players refine their skating, puck skills, decision making, and overall understanding of the game.

Passing the Game On

Having experienced so many levels of hockey, Gabe brings a unique perspective to player development. He understands what it takes to move through the ranks and how important strong fundamentals are at every stage.

At Champions Hockey, his focus is on helping athletes build the habits and skills that will allow them to continue progressing, while still keeping the game fun and competitive.

For the many players who have already worked with him, Gabe’s passion for the game and attention to detail on the ice have quickly made him an important part of the Champions Hockey coaching group.