No. 14 is No. 1

Abby Gauthier has her St. Mary's hockey jersey retired

The St. Mary’s hockey players had already been treated to a classy and momentous celebration befitting an undefeated state champion, but there was still one more major honor in store for the greatest girls hockey player in Massachusetts history.
The members of coach Frank Pagliuca’s 25-0 state championship team had each received a replica MIAA state championship trophy, a large plaque featuring a memorable, celebratory  team photo taken moments after the state title game at Harvard, a thoughtful “In Your Eyes” DVD prepared by parent/photographer Steve Iannetti, and a T-shirt – with the pais de resistance -  state championship rings – to be presented at a later ceremony.
Coach Frank Pagliuca asked Principal Carl DiMaiti and Athletic Director Jeff Newhall to join him at the podium for a very special announcement: St. Mary’s High School had decided to retire the hockey jersey worn by Abby Gauthier during her record-breaking career in the Lady Spartans’ program.
“No. 14 will never be worn again – we’re retiring Abby Gauthier’s number,” Pagliuca told the crowd.
As her family tried to absorb the emotion and magnitude of the moment, Abby walked to the podium to the accompaniment of a warm and prolonged standing ovation. “Abby, we love you,” shouted one of her teammates.
Three jerseys were actually retired: one will be forever displayed at the school, another will hang proudly at Connery Rink, and the third will belong to Gauthier, a lifelong keepsake to cherish with her other eminent awards such as Boston Globe Super Team, Boston Herald Dream Team, and Daily Item Player of the Year.
“I’m just very excited – I never thought that [honor] would happen,” said Gauthier about her number being retired. “I’m very happy and it’s emotional. I had no idea about this. It’s a great way to go out. I’m happy for my team and I appreciate what St. Mary’s has done for me.”
With tears still visible in his eyes, Brian Gauthier was asked whether the moment was “overwhelming” when he heard the surprise announcement surprise that his daughter would become the first St. Mary’s girl to ever have her jersey retired.
 “Overwhelmed isn’t words enough,” he said. “She’s had a fantastic career and it’s something that I thought might happen down the line but I never expected that it would.”
Brian Gauthier started his daughter skating in Lynn Youth Hockey when she was five years old. Did he foresee a best-in-the-state record - 179 goals and 179 assists and 358 points worth - in his daughter’s future?
“No, Abby really had to work hard for that,” said Gauthier. “That didn’t come easy to her. It’s an honor to have one of your children have success like that. “I could tell she was a very special player with all the hard work she was doing off the ice.”
Athletic Director Jeff Newhall, an alumnus of the school, said Gauthier is not only an incomparable high school hockey player, but a special person as well.
“Abby is deserving of all the awards that she has received because I know she has put in a lot of time and effort to reach this level of excellence,” said Newhall. “To have a jersey retired is an unprecedented accomplishment for a female athlete in this city. She’s a great kid and a tremendous athlete. I know everyone at St. Mary’s will be following her career at Providence and we wish her the best as she competes at college hockey’s highest level.”