Gigi Marvin, former Team USA and Boston Fleet forward, announced her retirement from the sport on Oct. 7. Marvin joined Boston during their inaugural season and was integral to their playoff push.
🏒🎉❤️ @PWHL_Boston @thepwhlofficial @PWHLPA pic.twitter.com/leaBURrauh
— Gigi Marvin (@GigiMarvin) October 7, 2024
“We are honored to have had Gigi Marvin be a part of our organization in our inaugural season,” said Boston Fleet General Manager Danielle Marmer to The Hockey News. “Gigi’s storied career, which includes three Olympic medals, multiple World Championships, and a legacy as an ambassador for women’s hockey, has left an indelible mark on the game. As a leader both on and off the ice, Gigi’s contributions to the growth of the sport and her impact as a teammate have been invaluable.”
Marvin’s Road to Professional Hockey
Growing up in Warroad, Minn., Marvin’s hockey-obsessed community helped her find her passion. Her grandfather was USA Hockey Hall-of-Famer Cal Marvin, who coached Team USA’s men’s team in 1958 and 1965. He created the youth hockey program she ultimately played at in Warroad, along with NHL names like T.J. Oshie and Brock Nelson.
She played collegiately at her hometown University of Minnesota from 2006-2009. She was the WCHA Rookie of the Year freshman year, a two-time first-team WCHA selection, a two-time top-10 MVP Finalist, and sixth on the Golden Gophers’ all-time points list.
Marvin was dynamic as both a forward and a defender, ultimately able to play both well. She predominantly played forward but could hold the blue line from time to time.
Professional Experience Across Teams and Leagues
Marvin has played in the Western Women’s Hockey League, the CWHL, the PHF and most recently, the PWHL.
Marvin and her team won the CWHL league title in 2013 while playing for the Boston Blades. In the PHF, Marvin was a two-time All-Star with the Boston Pride and won the Isobel Cup in 2016.
Most of Marvin’s accomplishments on the ice come from her decade-long Team USA career. Marvin competed in three Olympics, winning one gold (2018) and two silver (2010, 2014). She also claimed five gold medals from the World Championships and four silver. She ultimately retired from the national team in 2021 after 126 games played.
Marvin was also a member of the PWHLPA, which consisted of a group of Team USA and Canada players who created their own series of games to try and fight for a new league that would agree to their conditions, eventually becoming the PWHL.
The Inaugural PWHL Season
Marvin is leaving the game in a better place than she found it. She has been around for the comings and goings of professional women’s hockey in North America. Playing in the PWHL was the pinnacle of what Marvin had been looking to see for the sport. A league full of talented players with stability and ownership dedicated to ensuring the league takes off.
“Every time, I kid you not, I stepped on the ice I was almost moved to tears,” Marvin told The Associated Press on Monday. “And a couple of times I was moved to tears just watching the fans, watching my teammates, seeing the little girls pounding on the glass. And I’m like, `This is the coolest experience. This is what we fought for for so long. … And there’s so many people to thank.”
Marvin and the Boston Fleet made it all the way to the finals last season but lost to Minnesota. She finished the playoffs tied fifth for points.
Main Photo:David Kirouac-Imagn Images
