University of Minnesota Athletics
Garzone Looks Forward to Growing the Game
7/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
By Hannah Barnes, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- After wrapping up her college hockey career with a national championship, former Gopher Brook Garzone is heading back to her native Sand Springs, Okla., after spending eight years in Minnesota.
Garzone has decided to bring her competitive hockey career to an end, but she still hopes to keep the sport in her life.
Although hockey is not a popular sport in Oklahoma, Garzone hopes that she can help change that within the next few years.
"They are starting a girls' team, the first one ever," Garzone said. "I will be helping out with that a lot, because I want to help build up Tulsa hockey so you don't have to move to play. I'm ready to give back."
Garzone's time with the Gophers has helped drive her passion to grow the game of hockey and be a mentor to young players. She notes that without the older players acting as mentors during her first few seasons, it would have been hard to find the same amount of success.
"You couldn't ask for a better outcome, it's amazing that we won three [national championships]," Garzone said. "The girls above us paved the way. I was very fortunate to be a part of this."
Aside from the older players that acted as mentors, Garzone notes that she also grew a lot playing beside such a talented class.
"We were all very different, but had that one goal, which was to win that national title," Garzone said.
A three-time national champion with the Gophers, Garzone acknowledged that each one felt as good as the last. She was especially determined to win the last one as she wanted to be one of the few players who is able to end their career with a win.
"We are very blessed and fortunate. You strive to win at least one, but to win three, that's ridiculous," Garzone said. "To walk away with a 'W,' it's more than you can ask for because that's the one you will remember."
Garzone will continue to cherish her memories and experiences with the Gophers, and through that, will pave the way for many other young hockey players that have the dream to be a part of a national championship team.
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