Carlee Turner spent four years playing college hockey at the University of New Hampshire, serving as captain in her final season before signing with the Boston Pride for the 2020-2021 NWHL season.
The COVID pandemic called the dream of continuing her hockey career into question, however.
After the pandemic forced the NWHL to cancel upcoming games, Turner thought her time with the Pride was going to be short lived. “I was planning on leaving and going back home to Arizona on March 17th,” Turner said. “When we ended, I was like, ‘OK, I’m going home.’ I was actually going to book my flight even earlier than that.”
She was considering retirement.
Instead, the league got things back on track and at the end of the season Turner found herself an Isobel Cup champion.
Carlee Turner skates against the Buffalo Beauts in the 2020-2021 NWHL season. (photo credit: Michelle Jay)
Turner wore this jersey in four games at Lake Placid between January 24th and February 1st.
The jersey has moderate wear with some board burns in the sleeves and a few notable stray stick or puck marks.
There is one on the right sleeve #3 that led to the photo match above. This is the first NWHL jersey I have been able to photomatch, so that’s pretty exciting. The other mark is on the left collarbone/shoulder above the Dunkin sponsorship patch.
The jersey has a few special patches on it, as well.
The left sleeve has the 2021 Isobel Cup patch near the elbow and an END RACISM patch on the right sleeve near the elbow.
Another notable feature of these jerseys is that everything is once again sewn down on the jersey. No sublimation. The crest, numbers, patches, and sponsorship are all sewn on.
Carlee Turner was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona and played her formative hockey here in the desert.
She played for both the DYHA and CAHA organizations as a kid before moving to the NAHA/JWHL, following in the footsteps of players like Kaliya Johnson.
After signing with the Pride and all of the stops and starts of the pandemic, a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Whitecaps capped off an amazing final ride for the Arizona native.
Carlee retired at the end of the season to pursue a medical career.
Regarding retirement, Turner said, “It is hard, I’ve literally been playing hockey my entire life, and it’s hard to give up that dream, but at the same time, I’m ready. I’m so blessed really to leave on a high note like that, to be able to leave on my terms and leave as a champion with the Boston Pride.”