East Longmeadow’s Gabby Jones ’18 agreed to play ice hockey for Merrimack College’s Division I Warriors program. She signed a national letter of intent during a Nov. 10 ceremony recognizing seven Williston students signing to play college sports at the Division I and II levels.

Gabby plays forward and has played ice hockey for 14 years. During her tenure at Williston, her favorite moments on the ice have been the annual “Pink in the Rink” games, in support of breast cancer research. “We play for something much bigger than ourselves in these games,” she said, “and it is always so fun and has a big impact on everyone in the community, especially our team.”

During her time at Williston, she said, she has grown as an athlete. “Williston has gotten me ready for the next level. I have competed in four varsity sports since seventh grade and it has helped me get better every single year.” At Merrimack, she hopes to continue that trend. “I hope to grow as a hockey player and have a positive impact on the Merrimack hockey team.”

Her ice hockey coach, Christa Talbot Syfu, shares more: “Gabby arrived in seventh grade when our program made a big jump to being a playoff contender,” she said. “As a six-year player, Gabby has developed into a very skilled forward but also makes smart defensive plays, making her a great two-way player. Gabby has played a huge role for us because of her strong hockey IQ, which allows her to play in every situation.”