Date Published: 1-24-2023
Photo Credit: @lorengabel Instagram
There is no denying that the Flyers are in need of a sniper/goal scorer, and Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher has been on record saying that he would love to add a top six player. Flyers fans also know that snipers are hard to come by, but the Boston Pride in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), formerly the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), have one in Loren Gabel.
When a sniper comes to mind I immediately think of Gabel, a fast 25-year-old that stands at 5’4. She is exactly the type of player that the Pride needed and Gabel has changed the overall landscape of this team dramatically. One addition, yes the addition of Gabel, a natural goal scorer, a young woman who knows and is not afraid to shoot the puck, one that doesn’t hesitate to get to the greasy areas to score a goal. That’s what Gabel provides, “I see myself as a goal scorer,” she said. “Looking at everything this year, I’ve increased my playmaking ability.”
Gabel continued, “Throughout any sport you are going to have ups and downs. It doesn’t get me down. It makes me work harder and prove people wrong. You won’t be able to do that unless you work harder to improve and get better.”
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That is a pretty powerful message for any aspiring young female athletes that may read this piece. Gabel knows what it takes to be successful and believe it or not hockey was an after thought at one time, “I was born and raised in Kitchener, I’ve been playing hockey since I was four-years-old. I didn’t like it at first because I was talking a lot (She said laughing).”
This young sniper will shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice. Gabel is a sharpshooter that is highly accurate, with elite goal scoring abilities. She leads the Pride in Goals (14), Points (24), and is tied for second on the team in assists with 10. All of this in just 14 games played. For that matter, Gabel leads the PHF in points with 24 and is tied for second in the league in goals with 14:
“2019 was a huge honor (2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship). Any chance you get to put that Maple Leafs jersey on you are part of something bigger than yourself. Some of the girls on the team had amazing careers. It’s just a huge honor to represent your country.” – Loren Gabel tells Jamey Baskow
Gabel has a good first step, but she is a solid skater nonetheless. She just uses her hard-work ethic and dedication to the sport of hockey to better herself at her craft. Gabel is an extremely good board battler, and is not afraid from shying away to score a greasy goal. She has a knack for the net and can provide a net front presence. Gabel is also happy that Women’s Hockey and Women’s sports in general are becoming more popular:
“Its great to see with PHF. It’s great to see the growth and growth throughout all women’s sports. It’s really great to see. We’re doing this for all those little girls that look up to us.” – Loren Gabel
The Pride have needed this lethal forward for a period of time. She is a dream for any franchise, and she has turned herself into a generational talent, yes she’s that good. Gabel is a puck possession machine that has extremely good hands, and has acute vision of the ice. She can make something out of nothing in tight spaces, and that was an area of need for the Pride last season.
“It’s amazing to be part of the Pride organization. It’s a great team, with a great resume. Just playing with some of the players that have been part of the league for a long time now is great. Super welcoming,” Gabel said.
There is one last thing about Gabel Flyers fans. Her favorite player is Patrick Kane due to his good scoring ability, and great hands. We both talked about his game winning goal he infamously scored against the Flyers in 2010 to win the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks:
“Growing up and having the mindset of doing great things and accomplish things. When I was younger I shot 500 pucks a day in the Summer. You don’t get to where you want to go by going through the motions. You get to where you want to be by putting the work in and proving people wrong. Just taking no days off and attacking while you’re at it.” – Loren Gabel
Gabel is a Goaltender’s nightmare, and she continues to improve every day.
“You don’t get to where you want to go by going through the motions. You get to where you want to be by putting the work in.” – Loren Gabel said to Jamey Baskow
