Loren Gabel utilizes what could be the best release in women's hockey to score at will. We look at video of Gabel to explain what makes her a unique scorer.
Loren Gabel led the PHF in goals and points last season with the PHF's Boston Pride en route to being named the league's most valuable player. Next year, she'll certainly be in the new professional women's hockey league showing she's one of the best scorers in the game...period.
Watching Gabel, it doesn't take long to identify her best attribute, which is a powerful and pinpoint accurate shot. Gabel releases from various positions in stride, often off her back foot, changing her release point to fool netminders.
Often Gabel is looking off goaltenders signalling pass before indiscriminately picking either top corner of the net. In her approach Gabel makes finite adjustments to her stick positioning showing short side before firing to a far corner, or vice versa.
While Loren Gabel's shot, which can elevate from anywhere, is her best scoring weapon, she's also a deceptive puckhandler who likes to wind up with the puck in transition before weaving through the neutral zone. As soon as Gabel dishes, she likes to open to receive the give and go return, which often ends up in the back of the net.
From scoring 20 goals in her first PHF campaign, to graduating as Clarkson's all-time leading goal scorer, winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as a senior, or scoring six goals in seven games in her lone opportunity to represent Canada at the senior national level, Loren Gabel is one of the best pure goal scorers on the planet.
Watch Gabel's goals in the video above.