Abigail Boreen Bio
Abigail Boreen, born April 3, 2000, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A right-handed shooter, she has built her career as a versatile skater with strong offensive instincts and a reputation for delivering in critical moments. In addition to her professional achievements, Boreen is a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from the University of Minnesota, balancing elite-level hockey with a demanding graduate education.
Early Life and Background
Abigail Boreen is one of three children of Alicia and Chad Boreen. She grew up in a family that nurtured her love of hockey from a young age. Her parents owned a lake and a backyard rink, where she learned to skate at four years old. That early access to ice helped shape her path toward competitive hockey and gave her a foundation in skating that would later define her game.
Boreen attended Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, Minnesota, where she was a varsity ice hockey and soccer athlete, lettering in ice hockey for five years. With the Hill-Murray Pioneers, she ranks first all-time in assists, third in points, and fourth in goals. She won her first Wisconsin state championship with the U-10 Western Wisconsin Stars, and later helped the Pioneers capture back-to-back “AA” Minnesota state championships in 2014 and 2015 on the U14 and U16 teams. In her junior year, the team finished third, and Boreen was named the 2017 East Metro female Player of the Year before being named captain of the Pioneers in her senior year.
Outside of high school hockey, Boreen also played club hockey with OS Hockey, the Minnesota Junior Whitecaps, and the Minnesota Girls Elite League. She committed to the University of Minnesota in April 2016, following a scholarship offer. Her father, Chad, also played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team, creating a clear family connection to the program she would eventually join.
Path to Professional Hockey
Boreen attended USA Hockey’s Girls Select U18 Player Development Camp in 2016 and 2017, and she participated in USA Hockey’s 2016 and 2017 Women’s National Festivals. These early national-level experiences helped her sharpen her game against top competition and prepared her for the college stage.
At the University of Minnesota, Boreen developed into a steady contributor for the Golden Gophers. She made her collegiate debut on September 29, 2018, in a 5-0 win against Mercyhurst, and scored her first collegiate goal on November 18, 2018, against St. Cloud State. As a junior in 2020-21, she posted a career-high eight goals, including her first multi-goal game against Minnesota State, and recorded a 0.229 shooting percentage. In her senior year, she broke out offensively with 59 points, including 25 goals and 34 assists in 39 games, highlighted by a five-point performance against St. Cloud State on February 11, 2022.
Named one of four team captains alongside Taylor Heise, Grace Ostertag, and Grace Zumwinkle, Boreen also earned WCHA Forward of the Week honors twice and was selected to the All-WCHA Second Team and the WCHA All-Tournament Team. The following season, she earned All-WCHA Third Team recognition. She finished her career ranked seventh in program history with 166 games played.
Abigail Boreen Career
Early Professional Years (2023-2024)
Following the conclusion of her college career, Boreen signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation, reuniting her with former Gopher teammates Olivia Knowles and Catie Skaja. However, the buyout of the PHF voided her contract, and she never played a game for the Whitecaps. She declared for the 2023 PWHL Draft but went undrafted before being invited to PWHL Minnesota training camp.
She signed with PWHL Minnesota as a reserve player while continuing her pharmacy studies at the University of Minnesota. On January 24, 2024, she was activated on a 10-day contract, and in her third game she scored her first professional goal, an overtime winner. She finished those initial 10 days with two goals and one assist in five games, signed a second 10-day deal on February 25, 2024, and later appeared in the Walter Cup Semifinals as Minnesota won the inaugural Walter Cup.
PWHL Montreal Era (2024-2025)
Because she had only played under short-term contracts, Boreen was eligible for the 2024 PWHL Draft. Despite being widely expected to return to Minnesota, she was drafted in the third round, 17th overall, by PWHL Montreal, a pick that drew loud boos from Minnesota fans in attendance. She signed a three-year contract with the franchise on October 18, 2024, by which point the team had rebranded as the Montreal Victoire.
Boreen made an immediate impact with Montreal, recording a goal and an assist in her debut and earning third star of the week honors. She spent parts of the 2024-25 season on the Victoire’s first line alongside Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennifer Gardiner, finishing the regular season tied for third on the team with six goals.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025-Present)
After being left off Montreal’s protected list, Boreen was selected fifth overall by the Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft on June 9, 2025. In Vancouver, she was reunited with linemate Jennifer Gardiner, who had signed with the team earlier in the exclusive signing window. On November 21, 2025, Boreen scored the Goldeneyes’ first-ever game-winning goal, a 4-3 overtime victory over the Seattle Torrent, marking a defining moment in the franchise’s early history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Boreen is recognized for her skating, hockey IQ, and ability to generate offense in tight spaces. Her experience playing on top lines in Montreal, including alongside Poulin, demonstrated her playmaking ability and finishing touch. A right-handed shot, she has also shown a knack for timely goals, including a professional debut overtime winner and a franchise-first game-winning marker for Vancouver.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Boreen’s career include her 2017 East Metro female Player of the Year award, a five-point college game against St. Cloud State, the 2024 Walter Cup championship with PWHL Minnesota, and her historic first Goldeneyes game-winning goal in 2025. She has also been recognized for her academic work with three Academic All-Big Ten selections, three WCHA All-Academic honors, and a 2021 WCHA Scholar-Athlete distinction.
Abigail Boreen Career Wins
Across her career, Boreen has contributed to team championships and individual accolades at every level, including state titles in youth hockey, a Walter Cup championship, and multiple conference honors at the University of Minnesota.
NCAA and PWHL Highlights
In 166 career games at the University of Minnesota, Boreen established herself as one of the program’s most consistent players. Her professional breakthrough came with PWHL Minnesota during the 2023-24 season, contributing to the team’s Walter Cup title. With the Victoire, she recorded a goal and an assist in her debut, and with Vancouver, she delivered the franchise’s first-ever game-winning goal.
Abigail Boreen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Abigail Boreen is the daughter of Chad and Alicia Boreen, and one of three siblings. Her father, Chad, played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team, which helped shape her connection to the University of Minnesota. She has frequently credited her parents and their lake and rink for sparking her lifelong love of hockey.
Personal Life
Residing in Somerset, Wisconsin, Boreen has spoken openly about her childhood shadowing pharmacists, an experience that inspired her to pursue pharmacy. She has cited former U.S. star Natalie Darwitz as her hockey role model. In May 2026, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
2025 Season Performance
After being selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, Boreen began a new chapter in her professional career. Reuniting with linemate Jennifer Gardiner, she quickly delivered a franchise milestone by scoring the Goldeneyes’ first-ever game-winning goal in a 4-3 overtime win over the Seattle Torrent on November 21, 2025. The moment symbolized Vancouver’s competitive arrival in the league and established Boreen as a key contributor in the team’s inaugural season.
Playing on one of Vancouver’s top lines, Boreen continued to showcase the offensive consistency that defined her time in Montreal. Her ability to generate scoring chances and perform in high-pressure situations helped the Goldeneyes build momentum in their expansion year. The combination of her scoring touch and two-way play made her a central part of Vancouver’s early identity.
Looking ahead, Boreen remains a cornerstone of the Goldeneyes’ forward group. With her experience at the collegiate, professional, and championship levels, she is positioned to remain a key offensive contributor as Vancouver continues to establish itself in the PWHL. Her blend of hockey skill and academic discipline continues to define her approach to the game.