Taylor Hartinger is in rare company as a female hockey player from New Mexico who will play Division I NCAA Hockey.

Recently, the Albuquerque native committed to play for Franklin Pierce University, a school located in Rindge, N.H.

“At the beginning of the year, I had talked to coach (David) Stockdale from FPU,” said Hartinger. “He offered had me a spot for 2024 but I felt like I was not ready and needed more time to develop my game. We spoke again after Nationals in early May and he offered me a spot once again for fall of 2024. After playing a season with Little Caesars (in the Detroit area), my confidence grew and my playing style had evolved. I felt like I matured more as a player and was ready to make the move to play at a colligate level.”

The Ravens came in second in the 2024 NEWHA (New England Women’s Hockey Alliance) tournament to advance to the NCAA tournament. They previously won their league in 2022.

“I like that the Ravens are a strong, competitive program,” Hartinger said.

Achieving a milestone such as being a female from New Mexico to go D-I leaves Hartinger in awe, though.

The first was Sonny Watrous, another Albuquerque native, who played at Providence College from 2003-07. She was also named Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2004.

“It was not an easy task to get an NCAA Division I offer,” said Hartinger. “Girls hockey has grown so much over the past few years. This makes the competition level fierce and there are a lot of talented players you compete against. We are all trying for the few open spots that become available. What people do not see are the many hours of training, practices, and skills on the ice and off the ice. Team practices are only a small part of your success. You always need to do more and at times, it still felt like it is not enough. It has always been my personal goal to try and achieve an NCAA D-I commitment. 

“I was just excited to accomplish my personal goal. I feel it is an honor to achieve an NCAA commitment at any level. I am very proud of all our local female hockey players that have reached their personal goals in hockey. I am sure we will be seeing more stories about the accomplishments of female hockey players from New Mexico in the future. Hockey is more than just a sport for me. I am so blessed to have the support of my family and continue to do what I love.”

In the classroom, Hartinger said school “has always been a top priority for me.”

She took a slew of honors and AP DC courses and graduated with an advanced diploma from NorthStar Academy in Duluth, Minn., receiving the Presidential Merit scholarship and a few others for academics. Hartinger was also invited to join the honors program with FPU.

“My hard work in school paid off,” said Hartinger. “I have always loved computers and the IT field, but I have not declared a major yet.”

On the ice, Hartinger noted that “hockey has been a part of my family since I can remember.” She was born in Albuquerque and is also a dual citizen of the Czech Republic.

“My father Vladimir Hartinger played pro hockey, so I pretty much grew up around the rink,” said Hartinger “We moved around quite a bit for my father’s hockey career. After his season was over, we always made the move back to Albuquerque for the summer. When I was eight, I started to play in the local programs with NMICE and the New Mexico Warriors. I played mainly for the New Mexico Warriors until I was a second-year bantam. At that time, I also started playing for the 14U AAA St. Louis Lady Blues. The following season for 16U, I fully transitioned to girls hockey, moving to Michigan to play with the Belle Tire AAA program. I have played with a few different programs throughout my hockey career. I skipped my second 16U year and played up with the 19U AAA Chicago Young Americans, moving to Chicago. I had an amazing coach that season, Jessica Campbell. She is a great role model and mentor.

“I had the opportunity to advance my training and move to Pennsylvania to play with 19U AAA Jr. Flyers in the 2022-23 season. It was a memorable season. We advanced to Nationals and made it all the way to the championship. It was a bittersweet moment winning silver, coming in second. I am extremely proud to have been part of such an amazing team. And my last season of youth hockey was back in Michigan with the 19U Little Caesars AAA team. I feel like I had the most growth with this team and program bringing my game to the next level. We won our state championship, beating Belle Tire to advance to Nationals. I am very fortunate to have been part of such successful top-ranking teams. My parents have been so supportive throughout my hockey career. We moved around for my father’s hockey and I am glad my parents were willing to do the same for me.”

As far as coaches go, Hartinger had several that stand out as positive influences that pushed her to realize her potential.

“I was very fortunate to have had some amazing coaches throughout my elite career,” Hartinger said. “I feel the most patient and hard coach was my father. He had the tough Czech coach mentality. He made sure early on I understood ice time is earned and not given. Coach Jessica taught me visualization techniques. Her advice and coaching style built my confidence as a player. I admire all her accomplishments she is achieving for women in hockey.

“Another coach that influenced me was Manon Rheaume, the first woman of hockey. Although she was never my direct coach, she was the one that got me started on my path to play girls hockey. She invited me to skate one summer with the 12U Little Caesars summer program. She gave me the opportunity to try out for the West Coast Selects. I had no idea at that time you needed to be selected to compete and this was the tryout to advance to the World Select Inventional. It was an eye opener for me to see what high-level competitive girls elite hockey was all about.

“I knew after that this was what I wanted to do.” 

Moving forward, Hartinger wants to do all she can to keep advancing and growing her own game, as well as women’s hockey as a whole.

“I want to continue to be successful balancing my school work and my hockey life,” Hartinger said. “I want to continue to be a strong academic student. I also want to learn from my teammates the structure and flow of the team. It’s going to be a year full of new adjustments. In the future, I would like to help local young girls build their love for hockey. I feel it is important to be supportive and encourage each other to strive to reach that next level.”

Photo/Tanya Hartinger

— Matt Mackinder

(June 27, 2024)